Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Mastercard Teams Up With the Akshaya Patra Foundation To Combat Classroom Hunger

According to UNICEF and Global Health Database, around 33 % of Indian children are malnourished in the country and 66 million primary school children go to class hungry every day in the developing world. As Mastercard hosts the second edition of the Delhi Golf Club Open this year, the brand promises to make a difference.

To help the cause, Mastercard will be hosting an art exhibition where the invitees not only get to experience the paintings brought to life by the talented Delhi Street Art group but also get a chance to contribute towards eradicating hunger amongst children as the proceeds from the sale would then go to the Akshaya Patra Foundation – the renowned NGO that has implemented the ‘Mid-Day Meal Scheme’ in collaboration with the Government of India.

Akshaya Patra has not only helped eradicate classroom hunger but is also working towards countering malnutrition and supporting the right to education of socio-economically disadvantaged children. Presently, Akshaya Patra is the largest (not-for-profit run) mid-day meal programme in the world, providing nourishing meals to over 2 million students at 22,367 schools in 15 Indian states and two union territories each school day.

In its efforts, Mastercard will provide a platform for independent artists to showcase their distinctive style of art and also give the artists an opportunity to become an integral part of this noble cause. Delhi Street Art, known for their street-style pieces, ranging from the famous murals at the Lodhi Art District to the recent ones at Sunder Nursery, will be taking over the sprawling greens of the DGC to capture the game of golf, and the historic monumental marvels on their canvases.

“Mastercard has put in a lot of effort to seamlessly amalgamate various passion points of the consumer, be it sports, art or culture and ensure giving back to the society in some way or the other. I believe adding the aspect of philanthropy to this mix is how we give it an edge, and it is our true responsibility to give back to the communities amongst whom we operate. We believe that it is imperative to nurture the youth of the country and we will be channelling the funds to the Akshaya Patra Foundation in a bid to support eradicating malnutrition amongst young children”, said Manasi Narasimhan, Vice President & Head – Marketing and Communications, South Asia at Mastercard.

Mr. Anant Arora, Chief Sustainability & Communication Officer, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, “Mastercard’s partnership with The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a powerful example of how businesses can use their resources to make a positive impact on society. By working together, we are tackling the urgent issue of classroom hunger, which not only affects children’s ability to learn but also their long-term health and well-being. This collaboration is a reminder that no one can solve complex social problems alone, and that we all have a role to play in building a more equitable and sustainable world.”

He further added, “Over the years, we have witnessed the impact of the PM POSHAN initiative (formerly the Mid-Day Meal Scheme) and strived to contribute to its objectives in our capacity as the implementing partner for the same. I want to thank the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and respective State Governments for placing their trust and confidence in us and providing us this opportunity to serve children and communities for over two decades.”

As a leading global payments and technology company that connects consumers, businesses, merchants, issuers and governments around the world, it is Mastercard’s responsibility to support sustainability, lessen waste, and do more for the earth as well as everyone who lives in it.

In the course of its work towards the same, the brand has catalysed the ‘Doing well by doing good’ initiative which has proven to be successful in shaping a more equitable and prosperous world by empowering marginalised communities too. Through the art exhibition at the DGC Open 2023, Mastercard aims to set an example to use their reach for a purpose and work towards the greater good.