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 Jaipur kitchen in Rajasthan for whom the only aim is to benefit more and more children with freshly cooked, nutritious, and hygienic meals on every school day.

Mukesh Chopdar, Pre-processing Helper (Production Department)

Since when have you been working in Akshaya Patra?
I have been working in Akshaya Patra since November 2009.

Why did you choose to join Akshaya Patra?
I chose to join Akshaya Patra because it was an opportunity for me to work for a good cause.

What was life like before you joined Akshaya Patra?
Prior to joining Akshaya Patra, I was leading an ordinary life with no real goal.

Describe your typical day as a pre-processing helper.
As a Pre-processing Helper, I am responsible for all the washing, cleaning, and cutting of vegetables along with ensuring that all the cutting equipment are properly cleaned and sanitised before and after use.

Why do you think thorough cleaning of raw materials is an important aspect of cooking meals?
Raw materials, be it grains or vegetables are generally not clean and hygienic when procured from the market. So, it is very important to ensure that all raw materials are cleaned thoroughly before being cooked. Since, we provide meals to children, it is our duty to make sure that the food we serve them is absolutely clean and hygienic. And, hygiene begins right from the pre-processing stage.

How has your experience been so far?
So far, my journey with Akshaya Patra has been good.

What makes working with Akshaya Patra special?
At the end of the day, I feel mentally satisfied that through Akshaya Patra I am able to provide food to so many children. This food is helping children with their education something that every parent wishes for their children.

Om Prakash Sharma, Route Supervisor

Since when have you been working in Akshaya Patra?
I have been working in Akshaya Patra since November 2011.

What was life like before you joined Akshaya Patra?
Prior to joining Akshaya Patra, my life was good, but I must admit that life has become much better after joining the organisation.

What does your work encompass?
As a Route Supervisor, I have to check the vehicle condition as per the standard checklist, accompany the driver and helper in the meal delivery vehicle. I have to keep a record of food delivery time, vessel count, and ERP entry. I am also responsible to collect feedback from schools and inform the kitchen manager on a daily basis. I am the communication link between the school and the kitchen.

Why do you think there should be a constant communication between Akshaya Patra and schools?
Regular communication between Akshaya Patra and schools is necessary to maintain the quality of the programme. A good communication instils trust and confidence between the schools and the kitchen.

How do you address issues put forward to you?
After coming back to the kitchen, we review the feedback provided by schools. This is done on a daily basis under the guidance of the kitchen manager, so that, if any issue has been put forth by a school, it gets addressed in a timely manner.

How has your life changed after joining Akshaya Patra?
I am in a better position to provide for my family and that gives me a sense of satisfaction. Now, I am a more confident and happy person.

What makes working with Akshaya Patra special?
Akshaya Patra provides various trainings to hone our skills. We get a chance to learn and be aware of many new things related to our profession. This gives me the confidence to carry out my work more efficiently.

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 Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh!

We would love to hear from you, so please use the below comment section to share your thoughts and feedbacks.

Father is an epitome of protection and care. Studies reveal that men are biologically programmed to care and provide. No wonder then, that our fathers show their love best by doing something for us. The third Sunday of every June honours fathers worldwide. Non-profit organisations around the world use the occasion to pay tribute to fathers on this day.

How did Father’s Day originate?

There are several interesting stories that are associated with the celebration of this day. In most countries, Father’s Day is observed on the third Sunday of June, but in Europe and Latin America, fathers are honoured on St Joseph’s Day, which is a traditional Catholic holiday that falls on March 19. The Spanish and Portuguese brought the sentiment to Latin America.

A story goes that Sonora Dodd from Spokane, a city in the state of Washington in United States of America, was raised by her father – a single parent – along with five other siblings. When she heard a Mother’s Day sermon in 1910, she felt that fathers must be honoured too. So Dodd began a campaign for a day dedicated to celebrating fathers. The first such Father’s Day was finally celebrated in Spokane in 1910, followed by several towns and cities in America.

Another story is about one Grace Golden Clayton from Fairmont, West Virginia. There was a mine explosion in a nearby town that had killed more than 360 men. Grace argued that the children of these men needed a day or time to remember and pay tributes to their fathers and so, the day was celebrated in 1908.

Whatever the history, it’s a wonderful day that unites the world in honouring fathers. Apart from other bodies, non-profit organisations like Akshaya Patra channelise resources to honour fathers who encourage their children towards education. The organisation involves people on the occasion to help feed the children during its school lunch programme. Several donors come forward to sponsor a child or sponsor kitchen equipment every year as a gesture of honouring their fathers. Many of the Foundation’s employees are fathers, striving hard to give their children a good life and the organisation values their efforts.

What can you do on Father’s Day?

You can choose to be a child’s godfather on Father’s Day. All you need to do is sponsor a child and help Akshaya Patra feed millions of children by this single gesture. This may be through an online donation or a fundraising campaign.

Beneficiary schools organise events in their premises, encouraging children to write, draw or express feelings for their fathers in several other ways. You may find such a school near you in these states – Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh. You may choose to visit some of these schools and talk to children and teachers during lunch time and witness for yourself How Akshaya Patra’s meals benefit children.

Father’s Day this year can be channelised towards furthering the education of children through nutritious meals. You may easily do so by sponsoring a child.