Akshaya Chaitanya

• The marginalized from near-by slums in Mumbai and across Maharashtra make for the most in-patient load at Mumbai's public hospitals with >90% having no medical insurance. To add to their woes, the bread-winner loses the livelihood being bed-ridden or taking care of the loved one. Now with the added burden of hospitalization, these individuals are pushed further into poverty.
• The annual income levels of these families as per a survey in 2015 published by ‘Statista research department’ is ranging from under 75K to a maximum of 3 lacs. Source: Statista Research Department
• Most families don’t own a two / four wheeler, washing machine, personal computer etc. The worst part is that 80-90% do not have any kind of medical insurance
• The education level of the chief earner in the family ranges from being illiterate to at most higher or secondary education. Source: Socio economic classification by ‘The Market research society of India’

Akshaya Chaitanya is an initiative in partnership with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Medical education and drug department (MEDD), Maharashtra Government to provide relief to these families by serving them a wholesome, hot meal free of cost. An MoU confirming this partnership for all BMC and DMER hospitals has been signed to serve 10,000 meals every day.

Our aim is to ensure that accompanying family members are well fed to provide quality care and can save every penny for patient's medication and well-being.

Highlights of our service:

• Unlimited and comprehensive nutritious meal comprising rotis, rice, lentils/cereals, dry vegetable dish and pickle
• Cyclic menu with variety across weekdays suitable for local palate
• Food is served hot and fresh from insulated vessels with-in 2 hour of cooking

Quantitative outcome

• 1.) Enable the family members to provide quality care to patients hospitalized in 6431 beds of four hospitals i.e. KEM, Sion, Nair and Kasturba Hospital.
• 2.) At 3600 meals a day, we expect to serve 1.32 million meals annually in > 8 hospitals
• 3.) At 80% bed occupancy and avg. length of stay at 7 days, we expect to support 1.28 lakh unique families every year through these four hospitals. Further, we would keep a track of the count of Patients recovering from illness and families returning to normal life 

Qualitative outcome

• 1.) Physical and mental well-being of family members to ensure quality care for the patient.
• 2.) Family members of the patient residing at hospital be protected against a potential illness by way of good nutritious meal.