Meetali, a dedicated educator and passionate social activist, is the force behind Under The Tree. A graduate in Home Science from Jabalpur and a B.Ed. holder, she has been committed to the field of education since 1991. Her journey began in schools, but over the years, she transitioned into grassroots education work, determined to uplift underprivileged children and marginalized communities.
For the last 11 years, Meetali has focused her efforts on the children of daily wage earners and migrant workers in NOIDA. Through her initiative, she has helped over 1,500 children access basic education—many of them for the first time.
Tackling the Root Problem: Malnutrition and Learning Challenges
While working closely with these children, Meetali discovered a critical barrier to learning—malnutrition. Many of the children struggled with attention, memory, and comprehension. As a nutrition specialist by education, she quickly identified the deep link between undernutrition and poor academic performance.
“Most of these children don’t get enough food. Chronic hunger and lack of nutrients have left many stunted and wasted,” she says. Even though government schemes like the Mid-Day Meal have made a positive impact, they remain insufficient for children in informal education setups like Under The Tree.
Meetali decided to take action. With the support of the local community, she established a dedicated nutrition kitchen that now serves nutritious, hygienic breakfast and lunch to 150 vulnerable children, five days a week. Her ambitious goal is to expand this effort to reach over 2,000 children by 2030.
The Work We Do
Today, Under The Tree Foundation operates two learning centres in NOIDA—Sector 135, and Sector 168—where over 300 children are enrolled. Around 150 attend classes daily, receiving:
- Free study materials, school bags, bottles, stationery
- Seasonal clothing (summer/winter), shoes, hygiene kits, and utensils
- Regular excursions and field trips to places like Okhla Bird Sanctuary
- Participation in sports meets and creative programs like STEM learning, block programming, and photography
- Scholarships for meritorious students
The project also encourages children to pursue open schooling through NIOS and is working on a customized curriculum for students who are unable to attend regular school due to their socio-economic conditions.
Empowering Women and the Community
Under The Tree also empowers over 250 women with hygiene kits, sanitary napkins, and warm winter clothing as part of a behavior change initiative. A skilling program in tailoring helps women move towards sustainable livelihoods, with plans underway to expand into other vocational domains.
Our Response to Crisis
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation supported 1,571 migrant workers and daily wage earners with ration kits and hygiene supplies for three months. Special nutrition packs were also distributed to women to help them through the crisis.
A Call to Action
“The problem runs deep,” Meetali explains. “India is home to one-third of the world’s malnourished children. If we want to see a hunger-free, healthy India, we all need to do our bit.”
At Under The Tree, we believe that quality education and nutrition are not privileges—they are rights. And every child, regardless of their background, deserves a fair chance at life.
Join us in building brighter futures—one child, one meal, and one lesson at a time.
