Food is one of the daily requirements of every living being, be it plants or animals. It becomes more important for humans, as they, like plants, can’t make their food through photosynthesis or, like other animals, can’t snatch food from other beings. India ranks 111th out of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index report of 2023. Both government and citizen participation are required to deal with this problem of hunger. There are many NGO to donate food in India; among them is PARD India, working to eradicate hunger and is also involved in other activities like empowering women, educating children, etc.
PARD India
PARD India (Pragathi Association for Rural Development) is a not-for-profit organization (NPO), registered in Andhra Pradesh with registration no. 19/2011 under the Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act of 35/2001. The NPO is working in the fields of education, health, environment, skill development, and livelihood. Its primary focus is rural India.
The NPO works primarily in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana while also working in other parts of India through its community.
What are the ways through which one can donate food?
The donors can contribute their part in the eradication of poverty through 4 mediums:
- Cooked meals for the destitute, physically challenged, abandoned, and children in villages.
- ‘Happiness Grocery Kit’ can be gifted. The grocery kit contains food as well as hygiene items.
- A bag of rice of 25 kg can be donated to support the funeral of those families who have lost their earning member and are not able to meet their food requirements.
- A millet packet of 10 kg can be gifted to pregnant women below the poverty level category. Millets are rich in various nutrients, antioxidants, iron, etc. The UN declared the year 2023 the “International Year of Millets” because of the nutrition present in it.
- People can also celebrate their special days with them.
How is PARD India the best NGO to donate food than others?
- Holistic approach: It not only focuses on food security but also works in different dimensions such as education, women empowerment, healthcare, etc. to make food security part of a larger goal.
- Grassroots engagement: The NGO works directly with the local people to understand the needs of the people. To identify and deliver the food to the most needy ones.
- Transparent Mechanism: Donors want that if they are donating for certain acts, then only those acts should be done. PARD India is known for its transparency and accountability in overall work, including in food distribution. Many NGOs lack this mechanism, and because of this, donors hesitate to donate. Some NGOs use the donation differently for other purposes.
- Sustainability: PARD India doesn’t just focus on food; it focuses on long-term sustainability, where people can learn how to earn food. Many NGOs just focus on giving food again and again without trying to solve the root of the problem.
- Reaching the unreached: There are many NGOs in India, but many work in urban or semi-urban areas. However, the PARD focuses on rural areas that have been untouched by the different NGOs or government programs.
- Volunteer-driven: PARD India has a vast network of volunteers who work passionately in the development and food security of rural areas. This keeps the operational cost low, so more money goes towards feeding the people. Also, the needy ones get food as the volunteers are local people, so they know better.
Food donation is one of the many things that, if done, satisfies the mind of the donor. If we want to make India prosperous, then we need to feed the poor before teaching them, as without stomachs filled, not a word can be understood. And in the world of NGO to Donate Food, the PARD is one of the best NGOs.