Integrating Community Kitchen Contributions into SDG Monitoring Frameworks

This study quantifies the institutional meal gap and introduces the Langar Credit Protocol as a credible approach for incorporating community kitchen contributions into national SDG reporting. By examining SDG indicator methodologies, we demonstrate how household-centric measurements systematically underrepresent institutional meal provision. We propose six SDG-aligned indicators that convert community kitchen practices into verifiable metrics compatible with existing monitoring frameworks. The paper concludes with specific policy integration pathways for NITI Aayog's SDG India Index, corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting, and global SDG monitoring systems. By addressing the measurement gap, community kitchens can receive recognition commensurate with their contributions, while national reporting achieves greater accuracy and completeness.