The theme of the event, ‘Suposhit and Sushikshit Bharat for Viksit Bharat’, reflected the broader goal of linking nutrition and education to India’s development vision reports Asian Lite News Desk
The Akshaya Patra Foundation marked a milestone of serving 5 billion meals while completing 25 years of service, at an event held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday, March 17
The Akshaya Patra Foundation marked a milestone of serving 5 billion meals while completing 25 years of service, at an event held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday, March 17. President Droupadi Murmu attended the event as the Chief Guest and personally served meals to children, even feeding some of them, in a symbolic gesture underscoring the importance of child nutrition and education.
Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan was present as the Guest of Honour, alongside Akshaya Patra’s founders, Madhu Pandit Dasa and Chanchalapathi Dasa. The event brought together government officials, policymakers, philanthropists, and stakeholders, as well as students, parents, and teachers from government schools.
The theme of the event, ‘Suposhit and Sushikshit Bharat for Viksit Bharat’, reflected the broader goal of linking nutrition and education to India’s development vision.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu described the milestone as a remarkable achievement aligned with national educational objectives. She noted that ensuring access to nutritious food and quality education is a shared responsibility involving government institutions, communities, and civil society.
According to the foundation, it currently provides mid-day meals to 2.35 million children across 78 locations in 16 States and 3 Union Territories, with plans to scale up to 3 million children by 2030.
In a social media post, British Indians Voice, a platform representing British Indians, said, “A truly memorable day at Rashtrapati Bhavan, celebrating Akshaya Patra’s 25-year journey. As a British Indian, it’s a moment of immense pride to witness this historic milestone. From feeding 1,500 children in 2000 to 2.35 million daily today. Thank you to every supporter who believes that education starts with a full stomach. Let’s keep nourishing the architects of our future!”
