President Murmu Celebrates Akshaya Patra's 5 Billionth Meal as NGO Marks 25 Years
President Droupadi Murmu emphasized that combating child hunger is the foundational step toward building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), as she served the 5 billionth meal of the Akshaya Patra Foundation. The event, held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi, commemorated the NGO's 25-year journey of providing nutritious school lunches to children across India.
Investing in Human Capital for a USD 30 Trillion Economy
In her address, President Murmu stated that every meal served by Akshaya Patra is an investment in the nation's human capital. She highlighted that well-nourished children are essential for creating a productive and competitive future workforce, crucial for achieving India's goal of a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047. "Akshaya Patra stands out as an exemplar of social innovation based on the virtue of compassion," she noted, praising the Foundation for serving school lunches consistently for 25 years without missing a single day.
Foundation's Growth and Impact
The Akshaya Patra Foundation, which began its operations in Bengaluru, has grown significantly over the years. It now serves 2.35 million children daily across 16 states and over 25,000 schools. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who also attended the event, remarked that the education sector is the greatest beneficiary of Akshaya Patra's work. He emphasized that unless children are well-nourished, India cannot fully realize its potential, and acknowledged the Foundation as a key implementation partner of the PM POSHAN scheme.
The Foundation's milestones include:
- Achieving its first billion meals in just 12 years.
- Commemorating 4 billion meals at the United Nations headquarters in New York in 2024.
- Reaching the 5 billion meal mark in its 25th year.
Voices from Beneficiaries and Leaders
Chanchalapathi Dasa, co-founder and vice chairman of Akshaya Patra, expressed joy at reaching this significant milestone. He urged the government to implement a National Breakfast Programme to supplement the existing mid-day meal scheme, further enhancing child nutrition and education access.
Among the attendees were past beneficiaries like Suma, who received mid-day meals for 10 years and now works for a multinational company in Bengaluru. She shared, "Children cannot be brought on the development path until they are well-fed. Hunger and education are so crucial to each other." Meghana, a visually challenged computer instructor from Hyderabad, added that the Foundation's meals brought smiles to children's faces and helped prevent school dropouts.
President Murmu concluded by celebrating the Foundation's stellar role in nation-building, noting that its efforts enable children to pursue their ambitions and contribute to a new and developed India.
