11th November, 2016 New Delhi: The Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF) completes 16 years today. All along this 16-year journey, the Foundation has strived to address two main issues: “classroom hunger” and “education,” by providing 1 nutritious meal to children in Government and Government-aided schools. a day. The journey which began in 2000, started with the feeding of 1,500 children in 5 schools in Bengaluru. Today,this serving bowl is going to reach 13,210 schools; feeding over 1.65 million children every day in 11 states through its 27 kitchens.
Apart from serving at school feeding, Akshaya Patra also feeds at Anganwadis wherein children, lactating mothers, and expecting mothers-to-be are provided healthy and nutritious meals. The aim of this feeding cycle is to provide nutritious meals from the beginning of the child’s life which will continue to nurture them throughout their childhood, helping the child grow in the environment where social equality is for real and every child is provided a chance to learn and bloom.
Akshaya Patra is one of the best examples of PPP (Public Private Partnership)model, where Central Government, State Governments, Corporates and individual donors contribute to the cause and the Mid-Day Meal Programme of the Government is successfully implemented through the efficient workmanship of Akshaya Patra.
ShriMadhuPanditDasa, Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation said “It provides us great satisfaction to see the positive change one meal can make in children’s lives. 39% of our population are children and we would want them to be transformed as assets of our country as against liability. My heartfelt thanks to the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, all the State Governments, corporate and individual donors, who have constantly and whole heartedly contributed in upholding the philosophy of ‘unlimited food for education.’ ”
Today on November 11, 2016, as Akshaya Patra progressively voyages towards its 16th anniversary, it grows more conscious of its duties towards eliminating classroom hunger and promoting education – an earnest need of the hour. By leveraging the unique resources of the organisation, Akshaya Patra is all geared up and spurred to fulfil its mission of ‘feeding 5 million children by 2020.’
