Khaana Chahiye Foundation: a food NGO feeding the poor in Mumbai

HUNGER is a condition that has negative and disastrous effects on our bodies. The lack of food leads to a loss of nutrition which causes weakness, decreased concentration, stunted growth, slow development, a poor immune system, organ damage, reproductive issues and death. From preventing children from getting an education to causing a shortened life span, hunger and starvation are serious issues that impact more than 220 million people across India, according to a UN Food and Agricultural Organisation report. In both rural and urban India, the lack of access to nutritious food is a problem that causes immense suffering in the lives of children and adults who struggle to survive. Khaana Chahiye Foundation is a Mumbai-based food NGO that found a solution to this problem during the worst moments of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. 

From the darkest moments of the pandemic

The pandemic and lockdown starting in 2020 shut down access to basic services for people across India and around the world. While this included transportation, financial services and medical treatment, the most crucial of all was access to food. The most disadvantaged populations across India suddenly found themselves without the income to purchase food or access to food services. With the goal to eliminate hunger and starvation, the food NGO Khaana Chahiye Foundation was founded on March 29th 2020 and assembled a group of volunteers who started cooking meals and packing grocery kits to distribute to the most vulnerable groups of people suffering without food. This food assistance goes a long way beyond serving the next meal. In giving people access to food, Khaana Chahiye Foundation empowers them to access education and employment to improve their lives. 

Food ninjas

Khaana Chahiye Foundation runs community kitchens in Mumbai which begins its work at 4:00am each morning. Fresh raw ingredients are purchased and the food NGO’s cooks begin preparing meals with rice as the main ingredient along with vegetables and fruits. These fresh and nutritious meals are cooked, packed and set aside by 7:00am and are then ready to be delivered. Here’s where Khaana Chahiye Foundation’s food ninjas arrive at the food NGO’s community kitchens. Food ninjas are volunteers who collect food packets from Khaana Chahiye Foundation’s community kitchens and set off on different routes to deliver food to people who are identified as being most in need. In the past 4 years, Khaana Chahiye Foundation has distributed 71 lakh cooked meals, 71,000 family grocery kits and supported over 6 lakh migrant workers by providing food and essentials. 

Empowering women and transgender individuals

Khaana Chahiye Foundation runs community kitchens throughout Mumbai but two in particular – one in Ulhasnagar and one in Kurla – stand out. The food NGO’s community kitchens are the heart of the organization’s operations but these community kitchens do more than prepare food that helps people live better lives and empowers their futures. Khaana Chahiye Foundation’s community kitchen in Ulhasnagar is run by a transgender collective while its Kurla community kitchen is run by a women’s self-help group. In India and around the world, women and transgender individuals are among the most disadvantaged communities and there is heavy discrimination in the areas of education or employment. The project of the Mumbai-based food NGO aims to empower women and transgender individuals by enabling them to participate in community initiatives.

The Hunger Map Project

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown uncovered the need for cities to have an emergency relief plan in place to address the needs of the most vulnerable people when disasters or emergencies arise. To help this effort, the food NGO came up with the Hunger Map Project. This initiative identifies vulnerable populations in slum areas and devises relief-based solutions that includes delivering cooked food for people who have no means to prepare food or grocery kits for people who can. The food NGO then implements more sustainable interventions that utilize government services, schemes and policies to connect disadvantaged people with the services needed to live better lives. Khaana Chahiye Foundation’s programs are in accordance with SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 17: Partnership For The Goals which aim to end hunger and strengthen global partnership for sustainable development. 

Support Khaana Chahiye Foundation

To address the urgent and alarming issue of hunger and starvation that plagues the lives of Indians in villages and cities, the Mumbai-based food NGO Khaana Chahiye Foundation identifies urban communities suffering from hunger and starvation. Khaana Chahiye Foundation then prepares and delivers fresh and nutritious food for them to help them improve their health. To support Khaana Chahiye Foundation:

Support Khaana Chahiye Foundation

📷: Khaana Chahiye Foundation

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Shirley Bobby

Shirley has been in the development sector for over 10 years and is passionate about making a change in the world around her, including adopting dogs and writing to make a difference.