IIT Kanpur Students Create 'Panchamrit' for Just 20 Rupees: Learn How This Initiative is Providing 'Nectar' to Children

IIT Kanpur students have proven that even small initiatives can lead to big changes. With just 20 rupees a month, these students are providing healthy meals to 230 underprivileged children five days a week.

IIT Kanpur students have set an example. They have proven that even a small initiative can bring about significant change. With just 20 rupees a month, these students are providing healthy meals to 230 underprivileged children five days a week. This initiative by IIT Kanpur students has been named Panchamrit, which has truly become a life-giving elixir for the children. This initiative is also being linked to the children's education.

The initiative is not only feeding the children but also supporting their education.

Many families living around the IIT Kanpur campus are economically disadvantaged. For the children of these families, an Opportunity School has been running on the campus since 1964, providing free education. Over time, the school administration realized that many children were unable to concentrate on their studies, mainly due to hunger and malnutrition. Many children brought tiffins, but the food would spoil in the heat and rain. The situation was so dire that some children even fainted during class. When this problem reached the IIT campus, an initiative was launched in 2024 to find a solution. With the encouragement of the professors, the students of Hostel 5 took on the responsibility of providing healthy food to the school children.  A plan was then devised to provide the children with healthy and simple meals like rajma-rice, chole-rice, and kadhi-rice.

IIT Kanpur Students Changed the Situation with 20 Rupees

When the IIT campus calculated the cost of feeding the children collectively, the daily expense came to approximately 3000 rupees. When the expenses for the entire month were calculated, it was found that adding just 20 rupees per student to the mess bill of the approximately 600 students in Hostel 5 would easily cover the cost. Following this, everyone agreed, and in July 2024, hot and fresh meals were served to 230 children for the first time. Gradually, this initiative spread to Hall 1, Hall 3, Hall 8, and Girls' Hostel 1, where the students also readily came forward to contribute. After this, the children started receiving regular meals five days a week.

Panchamrit transforms children's health and studies

This initiative by the IIT Kanpur students was named Panchamrit, which has become a symbol of collective cooperation. According to the school principal, Dr. Chetna Mishra, the impact of this initiative is clearly visible. The children are more active and healthy than before, and they are also showing more interest in their studies. The school's in-charge, Professor T.K. Guha, says that online consent and objections are sought from the students regarding this initiative, but so far, no one has raised any objections. All the students are very positive about Panchamrit.