West Bengal professor creates free coaching centres and meal programs for children

Chandrashekhar Kundu, a college professor in West Bengal, India, established a community initiative to provide meals and education to underprivileged children.

After witnessing a girl eating discarded food, Kundu began researching food waste and started providing meals to children in three villages. He eventually earned the nickname the Foodman for his efforts to feed nearly 180 children.

Kundu expanded his work when he noticed that children from families of stone quarry workers and daily-wage laborers struggled with their studies due to a lack of academic support at home. He launched the Boi Toi Hoi Chai initiative to combine nutrition with education. The project now includes more than 20 free coaching locations where local teachers and volunteers help students learn closer to their homes. The organization FEED manages these programs to help children see new opportunities through schooling.

The initiative continues to offer regular dinners alongside educational support to improve the long-term prospects of the children in the region.