Bangalore : The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a cornerstone of the national effort to blend education with nutrition, celebrates a pivotal achievement in its mission to eliminate classroom hunger in India. As the operational partner of the Government of India’s “PM POSHAN Abhiyaan”, the Foundation has proudly crossed the threshold of delivering 4 billion nutritious meals to school children across the nation, addressing press conference said here. This landmark underscores the profound impact of the initiative on millions of lives, ensuring the bright future of children is not dimmed by the shadow of hunger.
Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice-Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, “We are immensely proud of reaching this significant milestone and remain dedicated to our vision of a future where no child in India is deprived of education because of hunger. Our journey is far from over, and we continue to seek the support of our partners, donors, and volunteers. Together, we are making a lasting difference in the lives of millions of children across the country”.
Shridhar Venkat, CEO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, “Innovation has played an integral role in our growth. Today, we have 9000 employees and 72 kitchens across 17 states and 2 union territories. We are also aligned with the ‘International Year of Millets’, and have crafted unique recipes that cater to our students’ pallets.
Founded in the year 2000 with the humble beginning of nourishing 1,500 children in five schools, Akshaya Patra has now flourished to serve over 2.2 million children daily across 24,000+ schools in 16 states and two Union Territories. This expansion reflects the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to fostering health, education, and empowerment throughout India. In partnership with various State Governments & the Government of India under the aegis of the PM POSHAN Scheme, Akshaya Patra has been instrumental in providing access to nutritious meals to schoolchildren, thereby supporting their health and enabling better educational outcomes.
This initiative is a stride towards fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and Quality Education (SDG 4). The journey of the Foundation is marked by significant milestones, including the achievement of serving 1billion meals by 2012, 2 billion by 2016, and 3 billion by 2019. This journey has been graced by the support and recognition from esteemed dignitaries such as then-Presidenti Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The inclusion of millets in the school meal program, especially highlighted at the ASEAN-India Millet Festival 2023, signifies the Foundation’s dedication to sustainable nutrition and food security.
Highlighting its ongoing commitment to nurturing the well-being of children, the Akshaya Patra Foundation is announced the “Music for Meals – An Evening of Music, Unity, And Philanthropy” event on 1st March 2024.The event aims to bolster the Foundation’s mission, making a positive impact on the lives of countless children.
