Mary's Meals image/svg+xml
Create Account / Login
Donate
Fundraise
Children in India supported by Marys Meals

India

Mary’s Meals feeds more than 55,000 children every school day in India!

Published on

Where we work

India is the second largest country by population and is home to some of the poorest and most marginalised people in the world. Nearly a quarter of India’s population lives below the International Poverty Line ($2.15).  

The Indian Caste system creates a hierarchy of status, adding inequality and social exclusion to an already complex register of issues – not least food insecurity.  

Gender inequality is a persistent challenge in India, with girls typically only benefitting from 5.4 years of schooling, versus 8.7 years for boys. More than 6 million children in India are out of school, and more than a third of children have stunted growth.  

Food being served in India

Mary's Meals in India

Mary’s Meals has been serving school meals in India since 2004. 

We feed children in areas across northern India and some urban slum communities in large cities across the country. 

We are currently reaching more than 55,000 children in places of education in India. Our programme is delivered through a close partnership with BREAD Noida. 

Child in India eating Marys Meals

Related Articles

A girl sitting outside eating Mary's Meals in Liberia

How Mary’s Meals reaches the most vulnerable children

Our nutritious meals are served to more than 2.4 million children every school day in 17 countries worldwide. No two contexts are the same, but the communities we work with are all carefully selected as places of great need, where factors such as extreme poverty, conflict, and climate-related issues drive up rates of child malnutrition and hinder access to education.
Read more about How Mary’s Meals reaches the most vulnerable children
Two young sisters, Fatima and Soni, stand outside in India

Fuelling girls’ futures

It is a shocking thing that around the world, so many girls are missing out on an education that could be their ladder out of poverty. Only 49% of countries have gender parity in terms of primary school attendance and this has wider consequences – for the girls themselves, their families and their communities. An educated girl has far better outcomes in terms of health and her ability to earn a living.
Read more about Fuelling girls’ futures
Her Education India Bhalaswa

Learning, not working

Mantasha, 12, has had a difficult childhood. Her mother sadly died of tuberculosis when Mantasha was just six-years-old and her father was left disabled and unable to work after he also contracted the same disease. The family soon moved to Delhi because Mantasha’s aunt lives there and her father was hoping she could help to support his children.  
Read more about Learning, not working
Siblings Jainab and Jubaida stand together smiling

Providing light in the darkness

Jessica Faulkner, Head of Media and Content, reflects on her recent visit to India and how your support is helping children like Jubaida and Jainab.
 Read more about Providing light in the darkness
When did we start working in India?

We have been serving meals in India since 2004.

How many children do we feed in India?

More than 55,000 children.

What meal do we provide?

Vegetable curry or lentil dhal with rice.

Where are we based/where do we operate?

We operate in seven states across India, predominantly feeding children in Northern India and some urban slum communities in large cities across the country.