The Akshaya Patra Foundation in Hubballi, which operates Asia's largest kitchen dedicated to school meals, has taken a massive technological leap. The NGO has significantly upgraded its infrastructure to boost efficiency, hygiene, and the nutritional quality of the mid-day meals it serves to thousands of children.
Major Kitchen Infrastructure Overhaul
At the heart of this upgrade is the installation of eight advanced double-jacketed, steam-operated sambar cauldrons. This modern equipment is designed for uniform heat distribution, which prevents burning and helps retain the authentic taste and vital nutrients in the food. Alongside these, ten new steam-operated rice cauldrons have been added. These are crucial for cooking vast quantities of rice perfectly, ensuring the right texture and flavour for the young beneficiaries.
Further modernising operations, the kitchen now boasts a new gas-operated curry machine for consistent and efficient curry preparation. A state-of-the-art HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system has also been installed. This system maintains optimal temperature and air quality, creating a better environment for staff and upholding stringent food safety standards.
Sustainability and Massive Daily Scale
In a move towards sustainability, the facility now generates biogas from its daily kitchen waste of 200 to 300 kg. This eco-friendly initiative complements the scale of operations. Ramgopal Dasa, secretary of ISKCON Hubballi, revealed the staggering daily consumption: 13 tonnes of rice, 3 tonnes of dal, 8 tonnes of vegetables, and 1,600 kg of oil.
This mammoth effort feeds over 130,000 students every day. The rice is handled using two large silo machines, each with a 160-tonne capacity. A dedicated team of 140 cooking staff members works across the three-floor facility, which includes a floor for preparation, one for cooking, and another for packing and dispatch. Automation aids the process, with two chapati-making machines producing 50,000 chapatis daily. All ingredients are rigorously tested in the in-house Food Safety Quality Control Laboratory.
A Commitment Driven by CSR and Innovation
The new cauldrons were provided by the Microfinish group under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Ramgopal Dasa stated that these upgrades reflect the foundation's dedication to leveraging technology and innovation to improve service delivery. By enhancing its infrastructure, Akshaya Patra is better positioned to meet the growing demand for nutritious meals, thereby directly supporting the health and education of children in the district.
This strategic upgrade at the Hubballi kitchen ensures that the world's largest NGO-run school meal programme continues to deliver quality, scale, and efficiency in its mission to combat classroom hunger and promote education.
