#BlogToFeedAChild

Our journey began in the year 2000 with a vision to ensure that “No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.” Starting with just 1,500 children in Bengaluru, we have grown into one of the world’s largest NGO-run school feeding programme, serving more than 2.33 million beneficiaries every day across 16 states and 3 union territories. Over the years, our work has expanded into multiple feeding initiatives, each designed to address hunger in a holistic way.

 PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) Programme

Our flagship initiative, the Mid-Day Meal Programme, is implemented in partnership with the Government of India and various state governments. Every school day, we provide freshly cooked, nutritious meals to more than 23,000 government and government-aided schools. This initiative not only ensures that children are nourished but also helps reduce dropout rates and improves learning outcomes for children.

Support the school meal programme and help children learn on a full stomach.

 Morning Nutrition Programme

To ensure that children start their school day on the right note, we serve ready-to-eat snacks as part of our Morning Nutrition Programme. Active in six states, this programme provides fortified energy snacks, milk, and other wholesome options. By complementing the mid-day meals, morning nutrition helps children stay attentive and active throughout the day.

Contribute to the Morning Nutrition Programme and give children the energy to begin their day right.

 Anganwadi Feeding

We believe that good nutrition must begin at the earliest stages of life. Through our Anganwadi Feeding Programme, we provide hot, nutritious meals to toddlers, as well as expectant and lactating mothers. This supports healthy physical and cognitive development during the crucial early years and aids in the Government’s efforts to tackle child malnutrition.

Donate to the Anganwadi Feeding Programme and nurture healthier childhoods.

 Feeding Homeless Mothers

Many homeless and destitute mothers face the harsh reality of hunger daily. Through this initiative, we provide aged women living in ashrams, with wholesome meals that restore health and dignity. Supporting this programme not only nourishes women but also gives them a peaceful retired life.

Extend your support to senior mothers and help them live with dignity.

Impact and Sustainability

For more than two decades, Akshaya Patra has served more than 4 billion meals. Our state-of-the-art kitchens, some equipped with biogas plants and solar technology, demonstrate our commitment to scale, quality and sustainability. Each meal we serve is more than just nourishment; it is a promise of hope, dignity and a brighter future.

Voices that give you a clear picture

Manoj Nayak (Father of Parvati Nayak, 4th grade, 124 No. Hatigarh Metelimedhi LPS, Jorhat)

27-year-old Manoj Nayak is the father of two children. The older one, Parvati Nayak, is a 4th grade student of 124 No. Hatigarh Metelimedhi LPS, Jorhat, Assam. She attends school with her 6-year-old brother, studying in 1st grade.

“My children are happy with the lunch served in school. They don’t feel like eating anything when they come home, even if their favourite dish is made. The meals cover the breakfast they skip at home. Every day, they come home and tell us how tasty the food is. They are delighted with it.”

C H Kavitha, Warangal

I come to the Anganwadi centre every day. Eating here helps keep me and my baby healthy, walking to the centre keeps me active and I learn a lot by talking to the women and teachers here. I’ve been coming here for 3 months since the pregnancy was confirmed. At home, I’m not able to eat as much as my body needs. Eating here feels safe for women like us. And I can also eat more while talking to women like me. When I deliver, I’ll surely send them here to eat.

Shobha Daasi

On behalf of every mother living here, I heartily thank Akshaya Patra and all the donors for taking care of our food. I love the food we are served. The menu changes every day and amongst all the dishes my favourites are paneer curry and kheer. I wholeheartedly bless everyone involved with the NGO and wish them further growth.

At Akshaya Patra, every initiative we undertake stems from a singular belief: no one should go hungry. From children in schools to aged mothers in the ashrams, from toddlers in Anganwadis to families struck by disasters, our feeding programmes are designed to serve with compassion and scale. With your support, we can ensure that hunger never stands in the way of potential, dignity or hope.

Join us in our mission. Your contribution today can transform lives tomorrow.

Every year, we observe Pitru Paksha to honour our ancestors and pray for their peaceful afterlife.  This year it commences on 7 September. On this auspicious occasion, crores of people pay tribute, perform kind acts to express gratitude to ancestors for their contributions in their lives.   

Pitru Paksha – Origin and its Significance 

The significance of Pitru Paksha has its roots in ancient times. One of the renowned references can be found in the story of Karna in the Mahabharata. After his death in the battle of Kurukshetra, he went to heaven. His soul was hungry and when he asked for food, he was only offered gold and jewels. When Karna asked the reason behind this, Yama, the God of death, informed him that while he has given a lot of gold and wealth to poor people, he had never offered Tarpan to his ancestors.  

Lord Yama told him that one can only receive what he has given to others or what their descendants offered in their name. Since he lost all his sons in the war, there was no one to perform these rites for him. Karna asked Lord Yama to allow him to go back to Earth to perform his duties to his ancestors. Yama granted him 15 days on Earth to offer food and water to his ancestors. This period is known as Pitru Paksha.  

Rituals and Ancestors’ Blessings 

Pitru Paksha culminates with Mahalaya Amavasya. On this day, people perform Shradh Puja to bring peace to the departed souls.  The key rituals include:  

• Tarpan – An offering of water mixed with sesame, barley and darbha grass, which is believed to quench the thirst of the ancestors.  

• Pind Daan – A ball made of cooked rice or barley with sesame seeds, honey and ghee. The word Pind means body and Daan means charity. The Pind symbolises the physical form of the deceased. 

Through Shradh Puja, families perform these rituals to honour ancestors and to aid their journey toward peace. The rituals usually conclude with acts of charity, showing gratitude towards ancestors. One way to do this is by feeding those in need. 

Feed Children. Support Akshaya Patra 

Feeding others is the biggest tribute you can give to your ancestors. This Pitru Paksha, you can honour your ancestors by supporting Akshaya Patra’s efforts to serve mid-day meals to 2.33 million children across India. With a network of kitchens in 78 locations across 16 states and 3 UTs, we nourish both children and their dreams. 

By making a Pitru Paksha donation, you can 

• Meet their nutritional needs 

• Keep children in schools 

• Improve their concentration 

• Empower children from marginalised communities 

When you feed children, you are not only pleasing the past generation with your generosity but also building a better future.  

Your Pitru Paksha Donation can Make an Impact 

Nourish a child in honour. As you offer Tarpan, secure a child’s future with the promise of mid-day meals. On this day, let’s bond together for a cause whose impact lasts for a lifetime.  

Support our vision – No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.  

₹1,500 feeds a child for an academic year 

DONATE NOW 

At Akshaya Patra, we have always believed that no child should have to choose between food and education. For the last 25 years, our mid-day meals have fuelled dreams across the country. Now we have taken a vital step forward with the launch of our Morning Nutrition Programme, a supplementary feeding initiative designed to bridge the critical nutrition gap in the early school hours. While a wholesome lunch sustains the day, a nourishing start is just as crucial for a child’s mind and body.

Why Morning Nutrition Matters

Every morning, many children come to school without having a proper breakfast. As a result, they are low on energy in the early morning hours, which, in turn, hinders their cognitive function and leads to reduced attentiveness in the classroom. In the long term, this can lead to gaps in learning and hamper their academic performance.

While the Government of India’s flagship PM POSHAN initiative (Mid-Day Meal Scheme) addresses long-term classroom hunger and malnutrition, the hours between children coming to school and lunch break remain crucial for learning and attentiveness. The Morning Nutrition Programme directly addresses this gap by providing ready-to-eat protein-rich snacks.

The mid-day meal meets about 35-40 percent of a child’s daily nutritional needs. Add to it the morning nutrition component, and it increases to 60-65 percent. The programme has double benefits: first, children are more likely to arrive at school on time, and second, they are less likely to be distracted or fatigued during lessons. Simply put, the Morning Nutrition Programme can boost our collective efforts towards improving children’s health and learning potential.

In fact, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 states, ‘The morning hours after a nutritious breakfast can be particularly productive for the study of cognitively more demanding subjects.’

Making an Impact

In just six months, we have served over 45 million morning energy snacks to schoolchildren across India. Our goal is to serve 200 million servings every year. By leveraging our existing mid-day meal infrastructure, i.e., a network of kitchens covering 23,000+ schools across 78 locations in 16 states and 3 UTs, we can deliver these snacks at no additional administrative cost for mid-day meal beneficiaries.

As a part of Akshaya Patra’s Morning Nutrition Programme, beneficiary children receive ready-to-eat protein-rich snacks, such as millet and peanut chikkis, roasted chana, protein bars and puffed rice snacks. Each serving delivers between 150-235 calories and 4.5-9.6 grams of protein.

Alignment with UN SDGs

The Morning Nutrition Programme is a strategically designed School Feeding Programme (SFP) component, which complements the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Programme by building on the same. In doing so, it aligns closely with the goals of national initiatives such as PM POSHAN while also contributing to global development agendas like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), directly SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and SDG 4 – Quality Education and indirectly SDG 1, SDG 5 and SDG 10. It also supports India’s long-term developmental vision under the Viksit Bharat 2047 framework.

You Can Make a Difference

For ₹1,160 a year, or just ₹5 a day, you can ensure a child starts every school day nourished, energised and ready to learn. Your support will help us reach more children, energise more minds, fuel more dreams and give every child’s school day a powerful start.

When you donate online to support the Morning Nutrition Programme, you help ensure that no child has to forfeit learning because of coming to school on an empty stomach.

Every child deserves to go to school, for school is the best environment to nurture their talents. It is not just a place of learning but a gateway to a world full of opportunities and a better future. However, even today, there are children who are unable to go to school due to their socio-economic circumstances. Is it okay to let them live deprived of their rights? Never!

The Government of India’s PM POSHAN is an initiative to protect every child’s right to nutrition and education. The assurance of mid-day meals acts as an incentive for parents to send their children to school as providing at least one meal a day for their children can be challenging. The programme has shown a drastic improvement in enrolment, attendance and retention, as well as the academic performance of children. So, it is crucial to continue this programme to make a meaningful impact.

Akshaya Patra is committed to continuing making an impact on children’s lives by ensuring their access to mid-day meals. As an implementing partner of the Government of India and state governments, we are currently feeding 2.25 million children in 16 states and 3 UTs through our network of kitchens spread across 78 locations.

Read the Real stories! Your impact!

For 10-year-old Ujjal Das from Amingaon, Guwahati, cricket is more than a sport—it’s his dream. Inspired by MS Dhoni, he aspires to play for Chennai Super Kings franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) one day. “I’ve scored 50 runs in a game, crossed 100 in test matches and taken four wickets in an over!” he shares with excitement.

Living in a joint family with his parents, grandparents, and younger sister, Ujjal balances his studies and cricket with a disciplined routine. Mornings start with feeding the ducks at home, and evenings are spent playing cricket with his friends. “I also love football, and Messi is my favorite player,” he adds.

The nutritious mid-day meals from Akshaya Patra play a crucial role in his journey. “The food is really good! My favourite meal is pulao,” he says. These meals ensure that children like Ujjal stay healthy, focused and ready to chase their dreams.

Keerthana, a 6th-grade student at GHPS Maidens Block, Mysuru, has a heart full of compassion and a dream to heal. “I want to become a paediatrician because I was often sick as a child, and the doctors who treated me inspired me,” she says. Her love for science and biology drives her ambition.

Keerthana’s father works as a mason and her mother as a housemaid. Despite their demanding jobs, they support her and her elder brother, ensuring they get a good education. Mornings at her home are often rushed and therefore, she often skips her breakfast. But she doesn’t have to worry because Akshaya Patra’s nutritious school meals keep her energised. “Bisibelebath is my absolute favourite!” she says excitedly.

With the support of her family and teachers and the nourishment provided by Akshaya Patra, Keerthana is on the path to making a difference—one child at a time.

Niyanshi, a bright Class VII student from Surat, Gujarat, aspires to become an IAS Officer and create meaningful change. Despite her young age, Niyanshi is driven by purpose. “I want to become an IAS Officer,” she proudly says, “to do something for my community and country.”

Her first goal? Transforming a small Gujarati-medium school in her area into an English-medium institution with better infrastructure, ensuring every child has access to quality education.

Niyanshi’s story is one of resilience, ambition and the power of opportunity. With her unwavering determination and the support she receives—including the nourishing meals made possible by you—she is moving closer to her dream.

In Bhubaneswar, 11-year-old Ravi Teja excels in academics, especially mathematics. Despite the hardships, he remains steadfast in his pursuit of a better future. He dreams of becoming a mathematics teacher. “Numbers excite me,” he says with a spark in his eyes. “I want to make learning fun for others, just like my teacher does for me.”

With his mother, C. Pushpa, working tirelessly as a housemaid to support the family, Ravi understands the value of responsibility. From fetching groceries to preparing a simple meal, he does his part to ease her burden. His ambition lies beyond these daily struggles.

A crucial support in Ravi’s journey is the mid-day meal. This nutritious meal ensures he stays focused in class, giving him the energy to chase his dream. “The food is really good. My favourite is paneer with rice,” he shares with a grin. For his mother, the meal is a reassurance that her son gets at least one wholesome dish daily.

In the small village of Gadwada, 12-year-old Radhika dreams of becoming a doctor. “There’s no proper hospital in our village. If someone falls sick, they have to travel far for treatment,” she says. “I want to change that.” Her fascination with medicine started at a young age, watching family and neighbours struggle due to a lack of healthcare. She studies diligently, eager to build a hospital one day where no one has to wait for help.

At home, she sees her parents working hard; her father at a food stall and her mother tending to the farm. She knows their struggles but refuses to let them deter her dreams. “If I study well, I can make my dream come true,” she says.

A highlight of her school day is lunchtime. “Khichdi is my favourite,” she says. “It keeps me full and gives me energy to study.” With every meal and every lesson, Radhika moves closer to her goal. One day, she will return to her village—not as a student, but as a doctor, ready to serve her community.

Help us continue nourishing the dreams of 2.25 million children like Ujjal, Keerthana, Niyanshi, Ravi Teja and Radhika. Together, let’s ensure that every child gets opportunities to learn and thrive.

The reopening of schools is more than the return of lessons and classrooms — it’s the return of stability, safety and a sense of belonging for millions of children across India. For many underprivileged students, it also marks the return of something just as vital: a hot, nutritious mid-day meal they can count on.

For these children, the mid-day meal we serve is often their most nourishing meal of the day — a source of strength, comfort and encouragement. As children step back into classrooms, we continue our steadfast mission: to ensure that no child misses out on education.

At the heart of every thriving nation is a generation of healthy, educated children. In India, however, the journey to education is often challenged by one of life’s most fundamental needs — food. Ensure adequate nutrition so that children do not have empty stomach which otherwise might dull curiosity, weaken focus and hold back their boundless potential.

Yet, amidst this challenge lies hope. And we, at Akshaya Patra Foundation, are transforming this reality with a simple yet powerful belief: when we nourish the body, we empower the mind — and with it, the future.

Back to School Is Just the Beginning

Our ‘Back to School’ initiative goes beyond serving mid-day meals — it’s about restoring confidence, rebuilding communities and reigniting the hope that education brings. Each plate of food is a quiet act of empowerment, allowing children to focus not on hunger, but on their dreams and potential.

As schools once again echo with laughter and learning, we stand by every child — one meal at a time, one future at a time — ensuring that no student is held back by inadequate access to nutrition.

Fuelling Learning Through Nutrition

A child on an empty stomach struggles to focus, and it can can hinder memory, energy and overall cognitive development — all essential for learning. By providing hot, nutritious meals in schools, we tackle classroom hunger head-on, boosting attendance, reducing dropouts and enhancing academic performance.

A Ripple Effect of Hope

The impact of Akshaya Patra extends far beyond nutrition and education. By feeding children, the foundation empowers entire families and strengthens communities. When parents know their children — especially daughters — will receive a nutritious mid-day meal at school, they are more likely to prioritise education. The initiative also fuels local economies by creating jobs and supporting supply chains. Ultimately, society benefits from a healthier, better-educated generation equipped to shape a brighter future.

As the old saying goes, you cannot teach a child on an empty stomach. But when you fill a stomach, you open a new avenue of learning.

Your support matters this Back to School season! Let’s feed the children. Contribute to help us send 2.25 million children back to school!

Good food is essential for our healthy living. However, access to healthy and safe food is challenging nowadays as commercialisation has penetrated even in food materials and thus, numerous food-borne diseases have started flourishing. As per the reports of the World Health Organisation (WHO), “over 200 diseases are caused by eating contaminated food.” To raise awareness about the importance of ensuring food safety, the United Nations General Assembly with the support of the World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) started observing 7 June as World Food Safety Day. “Food Safety – Prepare for the Unexpected” is this year’s theme.

As an NGO that provides mid-day meals to children in government and government-aided schools, Akshaya Patra strives to provide children safe, hygienic mid-day meals.

Let’s have a look at some of the food hygiene and safety principles we follow to ensure children’s health.

• Quality check of the raw materials

Assuring the quality of raw materials is important to serve good meals. So we follow a criteria for supplier selection and procurement of raw materials. If the raw materials do not meet the expected standards, we return them. In addition, we conduct regular inspections to ensure raw materials meet all the specifications adapted from the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 (FSSA).

• Preservation of raw materials

Once the quality checking is done, raw materials for cooking are stored appropriately to retain their quality. The vegetables that we procure daily are cleaned thoroughly and sanitised before cutting. Ready-to-cut vegetables are stored in cold storage. The rice supplied by the Food Corporation of India is machine-cleaned to ensure that all contaminants are eliminated before cooking. All the kitchens follow the FIFO (First In-First Out) and FEFO (First Expiry-First Out) methods to maintain the freshness and quality of the raw materials. Thereby, the kitchens can preserve and store the raw materials without spoilage.

• Maintenance of quality and safety during cooking process

The cooking process of all kitchens adheres to food safety standards. The first step is to sterilise all the equipment including cauldrons, sambar/dal tanks, knives and cutting boards using steam. The vessels used in kitchens are made of stainless steel of 304 grade which is best for cooking. Our kitchen staff are properly trained to follow the food safety measures and also to maintain their personal hygiene.

• Food packing and transportation

Once the cooking is done, the food is packed in steam sterilised vessels. Our specially designed vehicles are also steam sterilised before loading. The vehicles are designed in such a way as to save the food temperature and its freshness. We also use logistic charting and GPRS to ensure safe and on-time delivery.

• Post delivery

Taking regular feedback from schools is a crucial step that we follow to bring necessary improvements. The quality officers in the kitchen take action accordingly. We have also institutionalised Good Manufacturing Process (GMP), monthly audits and surprise audits to ensure food safety and quality.

• Continual improvement method

To enhance the quality of mid-day meals, we designed a programme called AkshayaPragathi. For this, we follow Kaizen philosophy, CI Projects and Six Sigma methodologies. Regular training workshops are conducted for employees in kitchens across the country.

All the efforts that we put in are to bring more children under the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (the Mid-Day Meal Programme) and thus achieve our vision – ‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.’ The numerous food safety awards that we have won over the years are a testament to our commitment to provide children healthy and safe mid-day meals.

Let’s have a glimpse at some of the awards that we received for food safety.

• Surat and Vadodara units received Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Award for Food Safety in 2016

• Our Vasanthapura kitchen (Bengaluru) received the top position for the Outstanding Performance in Food Safety and Hubballi kitchen received the second highest position of the ‘Certificate of Commendation for Significant Achievement in Food Safety’ at the CII National Award for Food Safety 2014 during the 9th Food Safety and Quality Summit

• Akshaya Patra Bellary received the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Award for Food Safety – 2013, for efficient Food Safety and Quality Systems

Safe food means fewer illnesses which in turn improves attendance and retention rates in schools. When you support us, you are taking a significant step to alleviate malnutrition in children and empowering them to learn well and dream big.

Donate online to nurture children by ensuring their continued access to safe and nutritious meals. Let’s build a healthy and happy generation together!

Dreams are the colours of life. They are the source of inspiration to work hard, no matter what tough trials we need to go through. However, there is a section of people who are forced to forfeit their dreams due to the socio-economic challenges they face. Their focus is more often on arranging at least one meal a day. Have you ever imagined how their children’s life would be? These children face challenges in receiving even basic needs such as good food and education. Isn’t it disheartening to see them giving up on their dreams due to their circumstances?

Akshaya Patra: Creating a Brave Generation through Mid-Day Meals

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO in India that empowers children to pursue their dreams. Here, we believe that education is the key factor that can improve the lives of children. It gives them the knowledge to design their life and makes them responsible citizens. As an implementing partner of the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme), Akshaya Patra strives to ensure that no child in India is deprived of education because of hunger. The journey that started in the year 2000 with 1,500 children has now reached new heights, feeding 2.2 million children every day. In all these years, we have had the good fortune to witness numerous stories of resilience that inspire us to enthusiastically go ahead and continue providing children a nutritious mid-day meal as an incentive to come to school.

Give children opportunities to colour their life with Akshaya Patra.

The stories of Sumaya, Hussain, Rushi, Gungun and Dharamveer represent our 2.2 million children and are a testament to how your contribution is helping us to nourish their dreams. Continue supporting us by donating online to feed children. Help us write more such stories of hope and resilience.

There is hope in the eyes of every child and some hopes are determined to reach the destination. To enable them for a better future, Akshaya Patra supports 2.1 million such dreams.

This heartwarming narrative captures the essence of the incredible impact that The Akshaya Patra Foundation is making.

Once upon a time in the heart of India, in the small town of Akshayagram, lived a group of bright-eyed children eager to learn. 🏫 However, their dreams were often overshadowed by the growls of empty stomachs, a stark reminder of the challenges they faced. 🍚

In this tale of resilience and compassion, enters The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a beacon of hope for these little dreamers. 🌈 Their magical wand wasn’t made of stars but of steaming pots and pans, ready to weave a story of change.

🍲 Food for Education:
The enchanting aroma of nutritious meals filled the air as Akshaya Patra began its mission. Every day, the children were greeted with smiles and warm meals that fuelled not only their bodies but also their aspirations.

🌍 Zero Hunger Challenge:
The Foundation took on the challenge to create a world with zero hungry bellies. It was a quest that resonated with the hearts of many, as they joined hands to turn the dream into reality.

📚 Quality Education:
With bellies full, the children found themselves more attentive in classrooms, soaking in the knowledge that would shape their futures. Education became the key to unlocking doors that hunger had kept closed for too long.

🇮🇳 Hunger in India:
The tale echoed the larger narrative of hunger in India, a challenge not easily conquered. Yet, Akshaya Patra persisted, knowing that a child well-fed today could break the cycle of hunger tomorrow.

🌽 Food Security:
The children discovered a newfound sense of security in the regular, wholesome meals provided by the Foundation. The fear of an empty stomach slowly faded away, making room for dreams to flourish.

🤝 Volunteering:
The townsfolk, inspired by the magic unfolding, eagerly volunteered. From chopping veggies to serving meals, the community actively participated in the enchanting act of giving.

As the story unfolds, it invites you to be a part of this magical journey. Join The Akshaya Patra Foundation in their mission to feed a child, for in doing so, you’re not just providing a meal; you’re nurturing a dream, a future. ✨

Donate, volunteer and be the hero in this tale of hope. Together, let’s feed a child and witness the transformation of dreams into reality. 🌟

Apoorva Jawke

2023 at The Akshaya Patra Foundation marked the generosity and commitment of our esteemed donors and well-wishers for a healthier and prosperous future. Our 23-year-old NGO persisted for another year in its relentless efforts towards nourishing vulnerable populations.

Not only did we serve mid-day meals (MDM) to government school children under our core programme for PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, but also substantially supported crisis victims with our relief feeding initiatives.

Last year, due to steadfast collaborations with our donors, well-wishers and governments, we accomplished
• Serving food from new kitchens
• Felicitation students and teachers from our beneficiary schools for their exceptional accomplishments
• ISO certifications for our existing units
• Recognition for the lives we impacted

Here is a rundown of events highlighting our progress in humanitarian service.

New kitchens

3 kitchens were added to our NGO’s network last year. They serve children under PM POSHAN Abhiyaan as well as provide food assistance during emergencies.

Food relief efforts

We helped deliver food relief during
• land subsidence in Joshimath, Uttarakhand in January, and
• floods in Assam in July

Nourish the Change Awards

Nourish the Change Awards is an Akshaya Patra initiative to recognise students and teachers from beneficiary schools for their extraordinary achievements beyond the classroom walls.

• In an interactive session between students and our leaders on 23 August 2023 in Bengaluru, students and teachers from our beneficiary schools were recognised for their admirable commitment and diligence. Indian artist and film director, Mr Prakash Belawadi and His Highness Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the 27th Head and Custodian of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore graced the event with their presence.

• We marked the 11th anniversary of our Surat Kitchen with Nourish the Change Awards. The event took place on 13 October 2023 in the esteemed presence of Meenaben M Gajjar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner – PM POSHAN Yojna, Surat Municipal Corporation, and many corporate visionaries and ardent advocates of our noble cause.

• On 23 November 2023, Nourish the Change Awards – Mumbai honoured partnerships and felicitated teachers and students who achieved extraordinary milestones despite multiple challenges. Kaustubh Dhavse, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Board Member, Mumbai Film Festival and Krishnakant Upadhyay (IPS), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mumbai graced the occasion with their presence. Indian Celebrity Chef & Indian Cultural Ambassador, Shipra Khanna and several dignitaries from the film, television and radio fraternity were also present to commemorate the achievers.

• Our Visakhapatnam Kitchen marked its 15th anniversary on 20 December 2023 with the Nourish the Change Awards. 15 years ago, it started by serving MDM to 5,445 children in 7 government schools. To date, it has served more than 31,80,000 mid-day meals and over 25,70,000 meals in Anganwadi centres.

Other highlights

• At the Corporate event of the 12th edition of World CSR Day in February 2023, www.worldcsrday.com presented the Certificate of Merit to Akshaya Patra.

• In March 2023, Akshaya Patra and Share Our Strength, a US-based national NGO facilitating school meals worldwide, jointly organised ‘Feed the Future Now’ at Chitnavis Centre. People of Nagpur came in numbers to the fundraising event to pledge donations to feed children.

• In March 2023, our 44th centralised kitchen in Gambheeram, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, was certified with ISO 22000:2018, testifying the hygienic and high-quality food it has been serving since its inception.

• We launched ‘Clean Slate Carnival’ on 15 May 2023, a drive to welcome children back to school. The pilot was carried out in collaboration with Citibank, Cargill, LSEG and Swiss Re to revamp 18 schools across Bengaluru which included cleaning the school premises and painting blackboards for a cleaner and safer environment.

• In July 2023, we were bestowed with the Silver Award towards the COVID Food Relief Project by the 7th CSR Health Impact Awards 2023. The award was presented by Smt Kiran Bedi, Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

• Our kitchen in Singupuram, Andhra Pradesh, bagged ISO 22000:2018 certification in July 2023 for maintaining hygiene in the kitchen and serving quality food. We provide mid-day meals in schools under the State Government’s Gorumudda and other programmes.

• Honourable Former Vice-President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, launched mid-day meal distribution in October 2023, supported by Akshaya Patra, for ITI students of Thakkar Bapa Vidyalaya Samithi.

• We were honoured with the Nexus of Good Award 2023 in November in the ‘Initiatives for Quality Education’ category. Mr Prabhat Kumar Singh, Former Cabinet Secretary and Governor, and Mr Anil Swarup, Former Coal Secretary of India, presented this prestigious recognition.

We are grateful for the trust placed in us by the people of India. It has allowed us to serve our society without barriers for over two decades and contribute to bridging the gap between the haves and the have-nots. With nationwide support, we have collectively supported socioeconomically challenged populations with a vital resource for survival – food.

Your donations over ₹500 to Akshaya Patra are eligible for 80G deductions under the Income Tax Act. However, only those who have opted for the old regime can redeem these 80G deductions.

Become a changemaker today! Join us and enable an inclusive future for India with an online donation.

Akshaya Patra kitchens are crucial to the Foundation’s vision of serving 3 million children by 2025. These kitchens are large-scale, state-of-the-art facilities where meals are prepared for school children. In January 2024, the Foundation inaugurated two kitchens in January at Panvel in Maharashtra and Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. The Panvel kitchen is the Foundation’s 68th kitchen and was inaugurated on 3 January, 2024. Meanwhile, the Hazaribagh kitchen, which is the 69th kitchen, was inaugurated on 19 January, 2024.

Background

People leave their homes at early hours and return after sunset in Hazaribagh and Panvel as the main source of income coming from coal mining activities and agriculture. This makes it difficult for parents to prepare breakfast or lunch for their children and most of them go to schools with empty stomach. This affects their attendance, focus on academics and other activities and performance in general.

Akshaya Patra has expanded its reach through Panvel and Hazaribagh kitchens to break this cycle and implement Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan. Panvel kitchen has the capacity to serve 10,000 children while the Hazaribagh kitchen has the capacity to cook mid-day meals for 1 lakh children every day.
A lot of children only attend school because they know they will receive a healthy midday meal. In addition to addressing hunger, the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan has a favourable effect on enrollment, attendance and retention rates. Having wholesome meals enables students to focus in class, learn effectively and ultimately create a brighter future.

Here’s what a teacher from a beneficiary school of the Panvel kitchen has to say about the midday meals.

Anupama Dambre, Principal, Gyan Jyoti Savitribai Phule Mahanagar Palika School, Panvel

“Every day, a teacher only wants to see her students happy and healthy. I am grateful to Akshaya Patra for providing my school’s students with hot, nutritious meals. The majority of these children come from homes that struggle to manage even one healthy meal every day. They are able to focus better on their studies and other co-curricular activities because of the meals given at school.”

For over 23 years, the Foundation has worked towards alleviation of classroom hunger, encouraging marginalised children to get an education and aspire for a brighter future. When you donate to feed the children, these meals act as an incentive for children to attend school every day. Thus, increasing attendance and enrolment rates. The meals also encourage them to continue their education. With the addition of the two new kitchens, Akshaya Patra hopes to impact more young minds.

Meals for Dreams

In order to address the problem of hunger and malnutrition in Indian classrooms, Akshaya Patra is working with the help of the central and state governments, as well as individual and corporate donors, philanthropists. The initiative, which began with 1,500 students in five Bengaluru schools, is already feeding over 2.1 million students nationwide. The NGO has been successful in expanding its care to remote locations with the goal of guaranteeing nourishment for every child.

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