CB BureauLast week the debate on the quality of the midday meal saw yet another twist as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that ran the kitchens to cook meals stated that they did not get enough funds to maintain the required quality as well as the nutritional value in meals. A group of representatives from such NGOs have asked the government to revise the funding and make it double.
At present, the amount paid for the meal is a mere Rs 3.34 per student. The sum is paid by municipal corporations to the NGOs that supply midday meals in the concerned city.
The compulsions of the NGOs can be well understood as it is not just the meal that they have to buy with the same amount – they also have to pay their volunteers as well as bear the cost of logistics. On the other hand, it is unlikely that the government will increase the midday meal budget soon (considering the shortage of funds for the Food Security Bill).
A new door opens for your CSR
The option that the NGOs as well as the companies are not exploring yet is to reach out to the companies for their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for upgrading the quality of the meal and feel motivated while serving the children. The companies too should look at it as an opportunity to invest their CSR funds in a programme wherein they will be feeding the future minds of the nation. Moreover, the programme is easily measureable and is also in sync with the guidelines in Section 135 on CSR in the new Companies Bill that makes spending towards CSR mandatory for large companies (read: First time in the world, CSR is included in an enactment).
(This CSR idea is one of the few hundred ideas that have been bundled in CauseBecause’s CSR Kit. The kit is a programme wherein Team CauseBecause indentifies CSR activities that are in sync with the line of business as also the law, implements the same, and creates a complete sustainability report for the company.)
The company can tie up with NGOs and take responsibility for either paying full or the deficit cost of the meal of a school/s as per its capabilities. The company may also motivate the NGOs by encouraging volunteerism – their employees on a rotation basis can help in cooking for and serving the children. Apart from creating nutritional menus, the companies can also look at other aspects of children’s education – proper infrastructure, shortage of staff, sports facilities, health and hygiene, cultural activities – and help in addressing as many of these aspects that are within its capacity. Finding and nurturing talent, too, can be another CSR programme that may run within the school that the company serves.
CauseBecause has developed a CSR Kit that brings together the process of ideating, implementing and reporting CSR on automation. The Kit is at implementation stage at various corporate groups as well as at a few small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in manufacturing, entertainment and services sectors.
Interestingly, the Kit does not cost companies anything – rather, it channelizes funds from public relations (PR) and branding departments towards CSR without compromising on the value of either.