The Daily Meals Programme

Thank you for showing interest in Phase XXXVI of the Wishes and Blessings Daily Meals Programme. Your contribution can help us take one step forward in eradicating hunger and malnutrition amongst the underprivileged and homeless in 6 states across India.

1. Why is there a need for a programme such as the Daily Meals Programme?

The hunger situation in India is dismal, to say the least. Despite concentrated efforts undertaken by the government, civil society and impact organisations, India falls to 111 out of 125 countries on the Global Hunger Index (2023). The numbers on the ground are disturbing - approximately 189.2 million people in India are forced to go to bed on an empty stomach. The Daily Meals Programme works on the principles of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 2 i.e. ‘Zero Hunger’. It is designed to reach out to homeless and underprivileged people to ensure that at least some of them no longer have to worry about fulfilling the most basic requirement- the requirement of food.

2. What is the Daily Meals Programme?

Launched in 2015, the Wishes and Blessings Daily Meals Programme is a unique initiative to fight hunger and malnutrition amongst the underprivileged. Under this programme, we ensure that beneficiaries are provided with hot and nutritious meals every day, thus ensuring that all their calorie and nutritional requirements are fulfilled. The meals are prepared under strict hygienic conditions, and menus are modified and customised keeping in mind the varied needs and preferences of the different beneficiaries the programme looks after. We also provide ration kits to the underprivileged in areas where cooked food cannot be prepared. The programme started by serving meals to 60 underprivileged children and women, and as each phase goes by; more beneficiaries come under the umbrella of the Daily Meals Programme. By the end of Phase XXXV, the programme was feeding 2000 hungry and destitute children, women, men and elderly across 6 states of India.

3. Why has the Daily Meals Programme expanded to include the distribution of ration kits?

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Daily Meals Programme focused on solely serving cooked food to the hungry. With the pandemic, there was a need to expand the scope of the programme to reach out to the disadvantaged living in remote areas of the country. As it was impossible to serve cooked food to these beneficiaries, the programme was revamped to include the distribution of ration kits to at-risk families. The kits included staples and essentials that were enough to feed a family of 4 for 1 week, and were distributed every week as a pilot project from October 2020. This has now been formally incorporated into the Daily Meals Programme, and this facet will continue to be executed until the ground situation improves.

4. Who are the beneficiaries of the Daily Meals Programme?

The programme does not focus on one demographic and cuts across barriers of age, gender and community. Beneficiaries include underprivileged and homeless children, women, men and the elderly from across 6 states in India- Delhi/NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

5. What is the cost of sponsorship?

The monthly contribution to feed 1 hungry person (through meals/ration kits) is Rs 1,100. While the beneficiaries residing in shelter homes are served with 3 meals per day; bi-weekly ration kits are distributed to beneficiaries residing in jhuggis, slums, and villages. Under the current Phase XXXVI (1st September 2024 – 30th November 2024) of the Daily Meals Programme, we have pledged to feed 2000 hungry underprivileged people across 6 states in India.

6. Why should you join the Daily Meals Programme?

You get the opportunity to be a catalyst for upliftment and empowerment. The regular provision of food helps to prevent begging, petty theft and other social evils. Once beneficiaries are freed from worrying about their next meal, they are enabled to focus on larger goals of building bright, stable futures. Serving 1 meal per day is not enough to provide sustenance. The USP of the programme is that we serve 3 meals per day, and distribute ration kits that contain enough provisions to cook 3 meals per day, thereby ensuring that beneficiaries are healthy and happy. Furthermore, you are helping combat hunger and enabling India to move towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal No. 2: Zero Hunger. Please note, you will receive 80G tax exemption receipts for your donation.

7. How are you assured that your donation is being utilised for the benefit of the underprivileged?

Once you are on board, you will be added to a silent WhatsApp group where regular updates are shared about the execution of the programme. We hold regular Open Days/ interactions via digital platforms where you can meet the beneficiaries, serve the meals and distribute the ration kits yourself to witness the change you are helping bring about. Please be assured that we, at Wishes and Blessings, work with complete transparency and hold ourselves accountable to all stakeholders involved. Individual reports are available on request. Join us in feeding 2000 people across Delhi/NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. All it takes is INR 1,100 to feed 1 underprivileged person for 30 days.