Akshaya Patra has always strived to provide the much-needed school meals to children in a sustainable way while expanding its base to newer locations. Over the years, it gradually increased its beneficiary base by starting kitchens across different locations of the country. In the near future, it plans to add around 20 more kitchens so that more children can be benefitted with the goodness of mid-day meals.

“No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.” With this vision, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO in India has been providing nutritious school lunch to children since 2000. Initially, the NGO served food to only 1,500 children in five Government schools in Bengaluru. Soon it comprehended the dire need of food to support education of children and thus began expanding its reach to newer locations. Today, the Foundation provides daily school meals to 17,62,133 children studying in 14,702 Government schools and Government-aided schools in 40 locations of 12 states.

Akshaya Patra has been recognised as the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programme. So that more and more children can be benefitted, the Foundation employs two models of kitchen: centralised kitchens and decentralised kitchens. The centralised kitchen format can be seen mainly seen in urban and semi-urban areas, and are large cooking units with the capacity to prepare one lakh meals per day. The decentralised kitchens are established to provide meals in remote areas. Irrespective of the kitchen type, Akshaya Patra ensures that children receive hygienic and safe food each time, by following several measures during each stage of production – pre-production, production, and post production. Some of the measures are as follows:

The Foundation has set itself the mission, ‘To feed five million children by 2025.’ Thus, to achieve it, this NGO in India is continuously and sustainably progressing and expanding its operational base. Soon, there will 23 more kitchens in addition to the existing 40 kitchens. Below is a quick view of the locations where Akshaya Patra will establish its next kitchens: Each Akshaya Patra kitchen is a storehouse of nutrition and hope. The meals cooked here positively impacts the health of children while supporting their education too. Support Akshaya Patra to continue providing ‘unlimited food for education’ so that each and every child in the country are healthy and educated.

When most of us are fast asleep in the wee hours of the morning, there are few places bustling with energy. Each day at the strike of 4 a.m., different groups of people at different locations prepped up with safety and hygiene gears enter into huge kitchen infrastructures. Why? To prepare ‘meals of hope’ for children studying in government schools! And, so we call them the ‘Humans of Akshaya Patra.’

Meet some of our passionate members from Vrindavan kitchen in Uttar Pradesh for whom the only aim is to benefit more and more children with freshly cooked, nutritious, and hygienic meals on every school day.

Dharampal Singh, Kitchen Supervisor – Production Department

Since when have you been working in Akshaya Patra?
I am working in Akshaya Patra since 30 June 2009.

Why did you choose to join Akshaya Patra?

I always wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. And, I knew Akshaya Patra would give me that opportunity. Hence, I chose to join Akshaya Patra.

What was life like before you joined Akshaya Patra?
Until I joined Akshaya Patra, I did not find peace and satisfaction in my job. But now life has changed totally and I feel blessed to be here in Vrindavan.

As a Kitchen Supervisor, what does your work encompass?
As a Kitchen Supervisor, my work encompasses taking case of the entire kitchen process and managing staff members. I ensure all kitchen staff mandatorily adhere to the personal hygiene standards and brief them on their respective responsibilities. I check the recipe summary sheet, raw material quality, monitor the cooking process, and taste food samples before delivery. I ensure that we always meet the ISO standards in our production process.

Why is it important that kitchen processes are in order and meals are cooked in a hygienic way?
Hygiene is an important factor, more so, when food is being cooked for school-going children. This food affects their personal growth and career development. Children are the future of our country, and we always keep their health and safety in mind while cooking food for them.

How has your life changed after joining Akshaya Patra?
My life has changed for the better after joining Akshaya Patra. It feels like a family as if all the employees here are threaded together with the idea of providing the best quality food to children punctually on every school day.
What makes working with Akshaya Patra special?

It’s a great environment to work here. Sometimes it gets hectic, but when the food gets prepared and distributed to children I feel so proud. Each day ends with the satisfaction that I was able to serve the children. I want to continuing working for children through Akshaya Patra, for the rest of my life.

Tulsiram, Driver

Since when have you been working in Akshaya Patra?
I have been working in Akshaya Patra since last 9 years.

What was life like before you joined Akshaya Patra?

Prior to joining Akshaya Patra, I faced lot of difficult conditions and life wasn’t really great.

Describe your typical day as a driver.

The days for me are quite difficult and hectic as a driver because the roads connecting the schools are not good. The schools are very far from Akshaya Patra kitchen. But, we make to reach on time and deliver the nutritious meals to school children. Despite the hurdles faced, it fills me with a sense of positivity that I was able to deliver the meals to children.

Any specific problem you face while on your way to deliver meals.

Mostly during rainy season, the roads get damaged. And, this poses a big challenge for us when we are out for delivering meals.

Why is it important that food reaches children on time?

Food is essential for mental and physical development of children. It is also vital in helping children to pay attention in class. Hence, I feel it is very important that children receive their lunch on time. It will improve their learning thereby benefiting them and the country also.

How has your life changed after joining Akshaya Patra?

After joining Akshaya Patra I have seen a remarkable change in my life. And, most important of all, now

I know the value of time!

What makes working with Akshaya Patra special?

Alongside improving my life and routine, Akshaya Patra’s job gives me a sense of peace, satisfaction, and pride.

Well, behind every great show, there are behind-the-scenes contributors. And, at Akshaya Patra, those contributors are our very own kitchen staff. Watch out this space to meet our passionate members from across all locations of Akshaya Patra.

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