Harsh Milesh Rai, a seventh-grade student, is a young boy with an extraordinary mind for mathematics. His eyes sparkled with pride as he recounted his recent achievement—scoring 57 out of 60 in mathematics. While Harsh’s academic accomplishments are already notable, his ambitions reach far beyond the classroom

"I love going to school because mathematics is my favourite subject! I recently scored 57 out of 60 in my maths exam, and it made my parents really proud. My father works as a sales officer at Baadshah Masala, and my mother works in an oil factory. They work long hours, from morning to evening, but they always find time to ask me about school and help me whenever I need something. I live with my grandparents and my uncle too, so there’s always someone at home. My family is very supportive, especially when it comes to my studies."

He pauses and smiles, as if recalling something important. "I have a dream to become an IAS officer one day. I want to build more toilets in my area because I have seen how difficult it is for people when they don’t have proper sanitation. If I become an IAS officer, I’ll make sure everyone in my village has access to basic facilities like clean toilets and safe drinking water."

On a typical school day, Harsh explains how his schedule is balanced between studies and play. "After school, I like to play cricket with my friends. MS Dhoni is my favourite player because he stays calm no matter what happens. I try to be like him, calm and patient when I face any problems in school or life."

Harsh is also grateful for the school meals provided by Akshaya Patra as an effort to implement PM POSHAN Abhiyaan. "I love the food we get at school! Khichdi with matar (peas) and chana (chickpeas) is my favourite.” It gives him energy for his studies and to play cricket afterward. Harsh feel lucky to get a healthy meal every day at school because he knows that not every child gets that. The food helps him concentrate better in class, especially when we are learning something difficult like new math concepts. Due to these nutritious meals, Harsh not only excels in academics but also remains active and motivated to pursue his dream of becoming an IAS officer.