Address
913 Raheja Centre, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021
Nourishing Health. Supporting Education
Mid–Day Meals + Health Check-ups
M-East Ward — home to Govandi, Mankhurd, Shivaji Nagar, and Deonar — has long been recognised as one of Mumbai’s most underserved and malnourished wards. Independent studies and municipal (BMC) data have shown that as many as half of all children screened in the ward suffer from malnutrition — among the highest rates in the city. For families here, food insecurity is a daily reality, and hunger doesn’t just harm a child’s health — it affects their ability to concentrate, learn, and attend school regularly.
It was against this backdrop that DBM India launched its Mid-Day Meal Program in 2008 — starting as a humble effort to feed 50 children a day in a single school in Govandi. Since then, it has grown into one of the largest and most consistent community feeding initiatives in the M-East Ward. Today, we serve over 2,000 meals every single day to children studying in unaided schools across the area, and have proudly served more than 1 crore + meals in total — a powerful testimony to our commitment to ending hunger, one plate at a time.
How It Works
Fresh Meals. Safe Delivery. Daily Nourishment.
01
Hygienically prepared meals are cooked and transported daily by DBM India to unaided schools in and around Govandi and the wider M-East Ward.
02
In other units such as Lucknow, Kerala, and Nagpur, volunteers identify children in need and serve meals directly at our Matru Bhavans.
03
Meals are provided to school children at lunchtime, every school day, throughout the year.
MOMENTS FROM OUR PROGRAM
Mid-Day Meal Gallery
02
Why it matters:
01
Children receive at least one wholesome, nutritious meal every school day
02
Malnutrition is reduced and overall health improves
03
School attendance and retention rates rise significantly, with fewer drop-outs
04
Girls, in particular, are encouraged to continue their education
05
Meals are served with love and respect to children of all religions and communities, reinforcing our value of unity
03
Our Impact in the M-East Ward:
01
Significantly higher school enrollment and daily attendance in the unaided schools we serve
02
A sharp decline in drop-out rates, as children and parents know a nutritious meal awaits them
03
Visible reduction in malnutrition and stunting among children in our program
04
Better concentration, participation, and academic performance in the classroom
05
Stronger trust between DBM India and the communities of Govandi, Mankhurd, Deonar, and surrounding areas — one of Mumbai's most underserved regions
For many children in the M-East Ward, this meal is not just a part of their day — it is the only proper meal they will eat. As we move forward, DBM India remains deeply committed to scaling this Program with quality, hygiene, and care, because no child should ever have to study, or live, on an empty stomach.
Health Check-ups
Health Check-ups
Feeding a child is only half the solution — without regular medical monitoring, malnutrition can go unnoticed until it becomes severe. That is why DBM India conducts health check-ups twice a year for children across the Mid-Day Meal Program, helping us catch problems early and act before they escalate.
Given the scale of malnutrition and anemia in the M-East Ward, these check-ups play a vital role in:
01
Identifying early signs of malnutrition, anemia, and underweight conditions among children
02
Tracking each child's growth and nutritional progress over time
03
Enabling timely corrective measures — including dietary support, counselling, and referrals for further medical care
04
Ensuring that our Mid-Day Meal Program delivers real, measurable improvements in children's health — not just meals served
FROM THE CAMPS
Health check-ups in action
By combining daily nutritious meals with consistent health monitoring, DBM India ensures that no child's malnutrition goes undetected — giving every child in our program the chance for a healthier, stronger start in life.