The Akshaya Patra Foundation is turning 21 on 11 November 2021. Since the inception of this organization, all efforts are put in to transform people’s lives – be it mid-day meal beneficiaries or any other individual in need. The journey to being known as one of the top NGOs in India was not easy for this organisation. Strategic partnerships, constant innovations, planned expansions, enhancement and continuous support has taken the NGO, the distinction of being the world’s largest NGO run school lunch programme.

Complying with the Indian Accounting Standards issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), every year an Annual Report with financial audits and statements are published and made available to stakeholders. Also, the NGO complies with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) that was adopted in 2008-2009. The organisation’s continuous efforts to maintain transparency has been recognized on various occasions.

A glimpse of Akshaya Patra’s 21 years of feeding
Before the onset of the pandemic, Akshaya Patra’s expertise in nutrition and innovative approach helped in ending classroom hunger for 1.8 million children studying in 19,039 Government and Government-aided schools, across 13 states and 1 union territory of India. Locally palatable mid-day meals are served to children from centralized and decentralized kitchens in 58 locations.

Constantly, for over 20 years, quality and food safety are of primary importance in all the kitchens of Akshaya Patra. To maintain the quality of meals, recipes across various locations are standardized. All efforts are taken to ensure that children not only have access to unlimited food for education in the form of mid-day meals but also to prescribed quantities of nutrition. Adopting and implementing Kaizen, CI Projects and Six Sigma methodologies, ensure quality on all terms.

During the times when people have struggled, Akshaya Patra has always stepped up to feed them and to help them build back their lives. This NGO in India has always responded proactively to several crises. Whether it was a flood, cyclone, or earthquake, as a responsible NGO, the Foundation has worked tirelessly within and outside the political boundaries of the country.

Below is a quick look at Akshaya Patra’s past relief activities

Akshaya Patra continuously strives to ensure that people from challenging backgrounds get meals to help them survive. With the help of Government partners, volunteers, individual donors and corporate partners, the Foundation has seen exponential growth in the last 21 years.

Donate online to be a part of the feeding initiatives of Akshaya Patra. Your online donations can feed not just mid-day meal beneficiaries but can satiate hunger in people coming from challenging socio-economic backgrounds.

Food has the capacity to either make or break a person. For the body to fight against various infections, diseases or malnutrition, a well-balanced diet is of prime importance. The quality of food that a person consumes, determines how the quality of their life is.

Every individual must be educated about the importance of nutrition, hence, the government of India launched a campaign in 1982 to raise awareness and to encourage everyone to understand the importance of adopting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. National Nutrition Week is celebrated between 1st-7th September every year since then.

With the COVID pandemic wreaking havoc in people’s liveso, this year’s theme is “feeding smart right from start” with which the government aims to provide information on how adults and children alike, can benefit from a god diet, right from birth. You can either provide food for the hungry or make them aware of nutritional values present in different food items.

Nutritional values in Akshaya Patra’s food
Nutritional values of various dishes are very difficult to calculate. However, we can know the nutritional value of every single ingredient that goes into specific dishes. Akshaya Patra provides nutritious school meals to mid-day meal beneficiaries, freshly-cooked meals to people affected by the COVID pandemic and other low-income sections of India that need food assistance (construction-site workers, aged people, grave-diggers, sweepers and cleaners, auto rickshaw drivers, etc.).

What goes into Akshaya Patra’s food?
Whether meals are cooked for mid-day meal beneficiaries or people affected during the COVID pandemic, The Akshaya Patra Foundation follows strict hygiene and safety practices to prepare food to feed the needy people of India during the COVID crisis. All the kitchens that are equipped to prepare meals on a large scale implement food Safety Management Systems to handle, prepare and deliver food.

How can you support to make Zero Hunger possible?
You can support this NGO in India by making online donations through September (Hunger Action Month) and throughout the year. Today, there are lots of people who are not able to get food for their survival due to their economical situations.

Your contribution towards Akshaya Patra ensures no one goes hungry. This Hunger Action Month, let’s #FeedToDefeatHunger.