The Akshaya Patra Foundation Increases Daily Feeding Capacity To 2.2 Million

● The Foundation has tripled their capacity from 50,000 in 2021 to 2.2 million in 2024

● They recently served their 4 billionth meal to students in government and government-aided schools

● They plan to establish two kitchens in Jammu & Kashmir over the next year

27 Feb, 2024 – The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a cornerstone of the national effort to blend education with nutrition, celebrates a pivotal achievement in its mission to eliminate classroom hunger in India. As the operational partner of the Government of India's PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, the Foundation has proudly crossed the threshold of delivering 4 billion nutritious meals to school children across the nation. This landmark underscores the profound impact of the initiative on millions of lives, ensuring the bright future of children is not dimmed by the shadow of hunger.

Founded in the year 2000 with the humble beginning of nourishing 1,500 children in five schools, Akshaya Patra has now flourished to serve over 2.2 million children daily across 24,000+ schools in 16 states and two Union Territories. This expansion reflects the Foundation's unwavering commitment to fostering health, education, and empowerment throughout India.

Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice-Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, "We are immensely proud of reaching this significant milestone and remain dedicated to our vision of a future where no child in India is deprived of education because of hunger. Our journey is far from over, and we continue to seek the support of our partners, donors, and volunteers. Together, we are making a lasting difference in the lives of millions of children across the country".

In partnership with various State Governments & the Government of India under the aegis of the PM POSHAN Scheme, Akshaya Patra has been instrumental in providing access to nutritious meals to schoolchildren, thereby supporting their health and enabling better educational outcomes. This initiative is a stride towards fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and Quality Education (SDG 4).

The journey of the Foundation is marked by significant milestones, including the achievement of serving 1 billion meals by 2012, 2 billion by 2016, and 3 billion by 2019. This journey has been graced by the support and recognition from esteemed dignitaries such as then-President Shri Pranab Mukherjee and Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The inclusion of millets in the school meal program, especially highlighted at the ASEAN-India Millet Festival 2023, signifies the Foundation's dedication to sustainable nutrition and food security.

Speaking on the Foundation’s growth over the past year, Mr Shridhar Venkar, Chief Executive Officer, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, “Innovation has played an integral role in our growth. Today, we have 9000 employees and 72 kitchens across 17 states and 2 union territories. We are also aligned with the ‘International Year of Millets’, and have crafted unique recipes that cater to our students’ pallets. We are also happy to announce ‘Music for Meals’ and honored to have renowned artists as Pravin Godkhindi & Vijay Prakash to support the cause & as a token of appreciation for our donors, supporters and well-wishers.”

The Foundation's commitment to excellence in nutrition and safety has been recognized with the CII Food Safety Awards 2023, reflecting the outstanding performance and adherence to food safety standards across its network of kitchens. Looking ahead, the Foundation is poised to broaden its impact through expanded outreach, enhanced partnerships, and innovative meal delivery solutions, thus ensuring the program's sustainability and growth.

About the Akshaya Patra Foundation:

Akshaya Patra is a not-for-profit implementing partner for the Government of India's flagship PM POSHAN Abhiyan. Its programme is based on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in collaboration with various governments, corporates, philanthropic donors, and well-wishers. Akshaya Patra strives to ensure children's access to nutrition by providing them hot, hygienic, and safe mid-day meals in government and aided schools every day. The programme positively impacts children’s education by improving their enrolment, attendance, retention, and concentration. The Foundation feeds over 2 million children in 22,367 schools through its 67 kitchens across 15 states and 2 UTs of India, making it the world's largest NGO-run school feeding programme.

For more information on how to support or participate in the Foundation's initiatives, please visit https://www.akshayapatra.org/music-for-meals/