Today is an auspicious day to start new ventures, and make new beginnings. It’s Akshaya Tritiya, the Holy Day which is believed to be the birthday of Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Interestingly, according to the Mahabharata, Yudhisthira and his wife Draupadi received the Akshaya Patra – the patra (plate) that would produce unlimited food – from Surya (the Sun God) on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.

The Sanskrit word ‘Akshaya’ means ‘never diminishing’. People believe that this day brings good luck and prosperity, and projects started on this day will yield success that multiplies.

On this special day people also donate to charity because it is believed that an act of kindness or a good deed will bring peace and happiness to the family. Contributions are made, big and small, to helping ease suffering and bring joy to another’s life. This Akshaya Tritiya, if you would like to make an auspicious contribution toward improving the life of a little child, click here.

In our endeavour to provide healthy food to over 1.4 million children across India every day, we have to make sure that the food gets delivered on time and in good condition. To meet these requirements we use optimisation techniques like completing the cooking process on time, beginning deliveries sometimes as early as 5am, and using big data analytics to make the delivery process as smooth as possible. To be cost efficient but at the same time have the highest standards in quality is a challenging task, but one that Akshaya Patra has mastered.

Part of this delivery optimisation technique is making sure that the meal distribution vans are equipped to keep the food healthy and safe till they reach the beneficiary schools. To ensure this all our vans are custom made using a honeycomb structure that prevents any food from spilling. The vans are also insulated to prevent dust from entering and heat from escaping. These precautions keep the food hot and fresh for long periods of time.

Our meal delivery staff are also crucial to the process of making sure the food gets to children safely and on time. All of our drivers understand the importance of the work the Foundation is doing, and their vital role in ensuring its success.

And why do we make this effort every day? Because each morning, when our blue buses leave the kitchen premises, we have the knowledge that all of our effort and drive helps give an underserved child the opportunity to enjoy unlimited food for education.

– By Nitish Sahay

(Intern from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies)