Iftaar Shaikh, a 7th grade student at Kamatghar High School, Bhiwandi, is an aspiring photographer with a keen eye for portrait and nature photography. Despite the challenges of growing up in a financially constrained household, Iftaar finds joy and creativity through his passion for photography, practising his skills with the tools he has.

Describing his family background, Iftaar says, “I live with my parents and two siblings. My mother, Nilofer, works at a tin factory. And my father, Ismail, drives heavy vehicles. He stays in Latur for work. My elder brother and sister both work with my mother. They had to drop out of school early due to financial issues.” Despite the struggles, the family is close-knit and Iftaar’s mother is incredibly supportive of his dream to become a photographer. "My mom says I’ll be a great photographer someday," Iftaar shares proudly.

Learning photography has been a self-driven journey for Iftaar. "I use my phone to practice and learn," he says. His friends often become his models as he practices portrait photography and sometimes, he even gets to learn from a family friend who owns a photo studio. "I like to take photos of my friends and nature," he says, his eyes sparkling up as he talks about his passion.

 “My day starts at 6 am. Our school time is from 7 am to noon. After school, I study for a while. But I can’t resist the urge to go outside with my friends,” he says. “I often return home late at night. And then my mother, who works long hours herself, scolds me for staying out too late. She sometimes even resorts to a firm hand to ensure that I stay focused on my studies,” he adds with a smile.

"I used to skip meals, including dinner," Ismail admits a habit that worried his mother. However, since attending school regularly, the mid-day meals provided by Akshaya Patra have become a crucial part of his daily nutrition. "The food is tasty. Sheera and sambhar-rice are my favourites," he says with a smile. He continues, “Although my mother sends a tiffin with me to school, I prefer Akshaya Patra’s meals.”  This act adds to his mother’s dismay when she finds the tiffin untouched.

The meals not only provide physical sustenance but also enable Iftaar to stay focused on his education and his photography dreams. His mother has even tasted the meals and agrees that they are nutritious and delicious. "My sister was also having meals served by Akshaya Patra in our school," he mentions, highlighting the continued impact of the initiative on his family.

Akshaya Patra’s school feeding programme is an implementation of PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, enables children like Iftaar to fuel their creative passion while staying focused on their studies. The efforts of Akshaya Patra align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-2 and SDG-4: eradicate hunger and provide quality education). The meals by Akshaya Patra every school day fuel the dreams of 2.25 million children like Iftaar, enabling them to work hard for their future and make the world a beautiful place.