The aim is to bring joy into the lives of children through the distribution of 'Happiness Kits' The economic impact of the pandemic pushed millions, especially children, into severe hunger and malnutrition. The underprivileged and migrant communities were worst hit and lacked access to basic livelihood, and consequently, food and shelter. To provide food and other essentials, Himalaya, an Indian multinational that produces health care and wellness products with Ayurvedic ingredients, teamed up with The Akshaya Patra Foundation and reached out to communities in Bellary, Karnataka. The company sponsored 7,146 ‘Happiness Kits’ or dry ration kits and has contributed approximately Rs. 4 crores for the Mid-Day Meal Program, since 2016. Through this donation, over 36,300 children have benefitted, and 80 lakh mid-day meals have been served. Incidentally, the largest school feeding program is run by The Akshaya Patra Foundation. Commenting on the initiative, Jayashree Ullal, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, The Himalaya Drug Company, shares, “Himalaya has always had a strong will to undertake community service. In collaboration with Akshaya Patra, Himalaya aims to bring joy into the lives of children through the distribution of Happiness Kits. We hope these kits provide children and their families the much-needed nourishment to stay healthy and safe. Our aim is to provide essential nutrition for the overall growth and development of children. Our partnership with Akshaya Patra is a significant step towards making a sustainable impact on the development of underprivileged communities through initiatives in health, education, and hygiene.” Shridhar Venkat, CEO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, “We are grateful to Himalaya for their generous contribution towards the noble goal of reaching nutritious mid-day meals to millions of children over the years. A recent study shows that India lags in the Human Development Index and has a severely malnourished population. COVID-19 has only exacerbated the situation. With donors such as Himalaya, we are confident of making significant progress in eliminating hunger and malnutrition by 2025, the year we will achieve a landmark milestone of having served 5 billion meals. Such acts of kindness from donors help us sustain our mission.”