It was another big and memorable day for us at Akshaya Patra on 7 July 2022!

We launched our 62nd kitchen in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh which will serve meals to over 1,00,000 children in 282 schools through the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN Abhiyaan) [formerly called the Mid-Day Meal Scheme]

Our humble beginnings started by feeding 1,500 children in Government schools of Bengaluru. It started with only a selfless thought and an improvised Akshaya Patra kitchen. What we have become today shows that anything is possible if the intent is noble.

Over the decades, we may have heard discussions only on problems within Indian societies.
But don’t you think discussions can be more fruitful if they are about solutions to the prevailing problems instead?

For instance, we all know that hunger and education have been India’s two most pressing challenges since its independence from colonial rule. However, little was being done about it.

One of the reasons might be that we often tend to leave everything to the government authorities, blaming them if our expectations are not met. However, little do we understand that we, as citizens of India, also bear responsibilities towards our country that provides resources for us to live and grow amidst comfortable surroundings.

Hence, we must also lend a hand in helping our fellow citizens who are lesser privileged than us but deserve an equal share in the nation’s resources.

Role of Akshaya Patra, an NGO in India
Acknowledging the need of the hour, our activities at Akshaya Patra began with a pledge that no child shall be deprived of education because of food. Soon our small NGO in India became a hub for billions of responsible citizens to contribute through online donations towards the mid-day meal programme in Government and Government-aided schools.

Today, we feel proud to mention that the support of our donors has grown to such an extent that our kitchens are being built with great speed all over the country, where each kitchen holds the capacity of feeding lakhs of children in hundreds of schools while maintaining high cooking standards.

Our newly-built 62nd kitchen in Varanasi is one such facility that deploys a roti machine with 40,000 rotis/hr capacity, a rice cauldron with 700-ltr capacity, a dal cauldron with 1,200-ltr capacity and an RO plant for water purification. Moving further towards sustainability, we will also use solar panels to produce electricity and solar water heater to boil water during the cooking process.

The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Varanasi kitchen in the presence of the Governor, Smt Anandiben Patel, and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath. With its launch, we wrote another chapter of our association with the Uttar Pradesh Government as this is the fifth facility after the centralized kitchens in Lucknow, Vrindavan, Gorakhpur and Mant.

The inauguration event was followed by a tour of the new Akshaya Patra kitchen facility and the dignitaries pledged their support for our endeavours. It clearly demonstrated the Government’s appreciation for the efforts of our Foundation and billions of our kind donors who are ready to give selflessly for the nation.

Tackling two problems with a single initiative
Our ideology at Akshaya Patra is unique in its own way. Through the successful implementation of the Government’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, we not only nourish the minds and bodies of underprivileged children but also help them focus on education.

And there is a bonus!
It solves a major concern of parents not sending their children to school. When schools serve meals, it gives the parents from low-income backgrounds an incentive to send their children to school as they would not have to worry about their nutrition. And when it is supplemented with free education, these parents readily agree.

Final Thoughts
When you think long-term, any amount from the pockets of millions of compassionate donors can make a huge difference in how India will look in a decade. Bright minds and healthy bodies will be leading a developed India whose faces will shine and inspire internationally.

Also, when these mid-day meal beneficiaries grow up into successful and brilliant personalities, they will remember the value of selfless contributions made by people and work diligently to return the kindness by impacting the lives of those who lack access to resources.

“Some, measure progress by what they own, others measure it by what they give. For when you take, it is never enough. But the more you give, the more you receive.” (Rashmi Bansal – God’s Own Kitchen)

We have often heard children saying, “I want to be a doctor.” or “I want to be a teacher”. But how many, at the age of 11, say, “I want to teach underprivileged children for free”? And imagine hearing that from a child who comes from a low-income background herself.

Such is the story of millions of children in India who hardly have access to one meal a day. Their dreams can change thousands of lives in turn only if we bring them back to school by nourishing their mind and body with wholesome school meals.

Here is a glimpse of some aims of our mid day meal beneficiaries that pull them back to school every day. When you donate for children’s nourishment, you also support the education and aspirations of these future achievers.

Sujita wants to become a doctor

Sujita is a girl studying in 3rd standard of CPS Primary School in Silvassa, Daman. She dreams for the betterment of others despite her unfavourable background.

Sujita’s parents left her with her grandparents and never returned. Yet, she moved on. Today, she is popular among her teachers as a girl with lots of courage and one who showers unconditional love to everyone. She dreams of being a doctor who helps people with financial difficulties for free.

Sujita admits that she couldn’t have come to school if it was not for the mid day meals. It lessens her dependence on her grandparents and gives her the energy to study as well as play.

Sneha dreams to teach and shape careers

Sneha studies in 8th standard of MP Prathamika Pathashala in Mehboobnagar, Telangana. At the age of 13, she smartly manages unending challenges at home as her father comes back drunk every day.

For Sneha, fulfilling one’s duties and responsibilities are the most important aspects of life. After learning from her circumstances, the 13-year-old wants to teach valuable lessons to children to mould them into responsible human beings of the future.

Given the situation at home, school is a getaway for Sneha where she loves to learn, work towards her goals and spend time with her peers. Additionally, Akshaya Patra’s meals are the energy boosters that keep her energized throughout the day.

Building the future

Nutrition can both make and track the development of a nation. The nutritional level of the population decides its progress in health, education, empowerment and employment.

However, in March 2021, the Ministry of Women and Child Development stated that a million children in India need to be saved from Severe Acute Malnutrition. Thus, despite multiple NGOs and the government working towards nourishment of children, the nation’s people need to come together and contribute.

One such NGO in India is The Akshaya Patra Foundation which started serving nutritious school meals in Government and Government-aided schools in 2000. This NGO is registered under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 and has served 441 million school meals in the last 21 years. With constant support from its compassionate donors, the Foundation now feeds across 14 states and 2 union territories.

Akshaya Patra’s meals are packed with nutrients as stated by the Supreme Court of India and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Furthermore, the food is cooked separately for primary and upper primary students to meet the specific nutritional requirements of the age groups.

The NGO’s freshly cooked meals reach 1.8 million beneficiaries from 61 kitchens every day. They give them the motivation and the stamina to not only excel in academics but also in sports and the field of arts.

When you donate online to Akshaya Patra – an NGO in India, children like Sujita and Sneha can study hard without second thoughts. Support the Foundation’s mid-day meals to offer equal opportunities to underserved children in nutrition, health, and education.