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President Murmu Celebrates Akshaya Patra's 5 Billion Meals Milestone

President Droupadi Murmu will be the Chief Guest at an event celebrating The Akshaya Patra Foundation's 25 years of service and its historic achievement of serving 5 billion cumulative meals to children. The Foundation, a key partner in the Government of India's PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, provides daily nutritious mid-day meals to over 2.35 million children across thousands of schools. The event, themed around building a nourished and educated India, will also be attended by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the foundation's founders. This milestone underscores one of the world's largest school feeding programs, which grew from serving 1,500 children to millions.

Key Points: Akshaya Patra Serves 5 Billion Meals, Marked by President Murmu

  • 5 billion cumulative meals served
  • 25 years of service
  • Partner in PM POSHAN scheme
  • Feeds 2.35 million children daily
  • Milestone celebrated at UN
2 min read

President Droupadi Murmu to celebrate Akshaya Patra's 5 billion meals and 25 years of service

President Droupadi Murmu to commemorate Akshaya Patra Foundation serving 5 billion meals to children over 25 years under PM POSHAN.

"Suposhit and Sushikshit Bharat for Viksit Bharat - Event Theme"

New Delhi, March 16

President Droupadi Murmu will commemorate The Akshaya Patra Foundation's historic milestone of serving 5 billion cumulative meals to children across India and the completion of its 25 years of service to society as part of the Government of India's flagship PM POSHAN initiative, an official press release said.

The event is themed 'Suposhit and Sushikshit Bharat for Viksit Bharat', in support of the vision of building a New and Developed India through child nutrition and education.

President Murmu will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest, and Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan will be the Guest of Honour. The event will be held in the august presence of Akshaya Patra's founders - Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman and Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman, along with its Board of Trustees on March 17 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC), New Delhi.

Senior government officials, distinguished leaders, public policy think tanks, philanthropists, partners, supporters, and key stakeholders will attend the event. Some of the past beneficiaries of Akshaya Patra, students, parents, teachers and staff from government schools will also be present.

The programme will highlight Akshaya Patra's sustained efforts to address classroom hunger and support children's education through nutritious mid-day meals since its inception in 2000. The Foundation currently provides nutritious mid-day meals to over 2.35 million children across 16 States and 3 Union Territories of India.

As the implementing partner of the Government of India's PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (Mid-Day Meal Scheme), the Foundation provides hot, nutritious and tasty mid-day meals to children in government and government-aided schools every day to support their nutrition and education.

In partnership with the Government of India, various state governments and UT administrations, and the inestimable support of many philanthropic donors and well-wishers, the Foundation has grown from humble beginnings serving just 1,500 schoolchildren across five schools to becoming one of the largest (not-for-profit run) school feeding programme in the world, serving wholesome food to over 2.25 million children from 23,000+ schools across 17 States and 3 Union Territories in India.

Akshaya Patra continuously forges partnerships and leverages technology to cater to millions of children and has served over 4 billion meals since 2000. The momentous milestone was commemorated at a special event at the UN headquarters in New York on April 2 2024.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
This is genuinely inspiring. Feeding millions of children daily is a massive logistical challenge. Hats off to the thousands of staff and volunteers. Hope the quality and nutrition standards are maintained uniformly across all states. A well-fed child is the first step towards a Viksit Bharat.
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Aman W
While the scale is commendable, we must ensure there is no complacency. I've read reports from some remote districts where the meal quantity or quality suffers. Continuous, independent monitoring is crucial. The intent is noble, but execution on the ground must match the headline numbers.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has volunteered with them, the operation is awe-inspiring. The hygiene and efficiency in their kitchens are world-class. It's more than just food; it's about dignity and giving every child an equal chance to learn. Proud to see this recognition at the highest level.
K
Karthik V
'Suposhit and Sushikshit Bharat' – a perfect theme. You cannot focus on education with an empty stomach. This scheme has likely improved school attendance figures tremendously, especially for girl children. A great example of how charity and government policy can work hand-in-hand.
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Nisha Z
From 1,500 to 2.35 million children! 🎉 This is the real "Make in India" story we should celebrate. It's heartening to see the President herself gracing the event. It shows the importance the nation places on its children's future. More power to the team!

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