Project AnnaSeva

MID-DAY MEAL – Bihar

The Musahar community is a marginalized Dalit community spread across eastern Uttar Pradesh, southern Nepal, Bihar, and Jharkhand. In Bihar, they are known as rat eaters due to their traditional occupation as rat catchers, which many are still forced to do because of poverty and destitution. Even among Dalits, they are considered one of the most marginalized castes in India.

The majority of Musahars live in rural areas, with only 3% living in cities. In rural areas, Musahars work primarily as bonded agricultural laborers and often go without work for up to eight months a year. Children often work alongside their parents in the fields or as rag-pickers, earning as little as £25-30 per day. Malnutrition affects up to 85% of some Musahar villages, and access to health centers is limited, resulting in the spread of diseases such as malaria and kala-azar.

To ensure that children have at least one good meal a day, we have sponsored a mid-day meal for 60 children in a village in Bihar for 30 days. While our focus remains on education, we recognize that education cannot be imparted to a hungry child. We plan to do more once we have secured funding for this project.

As a donor, you can help children from marginalized communities by providing them with a nutritious meal. For just £500 per month, we can provide 60 children with food for 30 days. Your generosity can make a difference in the life of a child who would otherwise go hungry. Let’s work together to make this possible.