The Akshaya Patra Foundation on Friday announced a musical event to raise funds and awareness about providing nutritious meals to school children in its quest to eliminate classroom hunger in India. The event – Music for Meals – An Evening of Music, Unity, And Philanthropy – will be held in the city on March 1. This gala event features renowned artists Vijay Prakash and Pravin Godkhindi. It is supported by corporate and individual donors in partnership with TAJ Yeshwantpur and Radio City 91.1FM. The event aims to bolster the Foundation’s mission, making a positive impact on the lives of countless children. Speaking about the event, Godkhindi, an acclaimed Indian Classical Hindustani flute player said, “I am delighted to associate with the Akshaya Patra Foundation and contribute to their mission of feeding schoolchildren. “For this concert, we will be performing a high-energy ensemble that invokes a sense of peace. We are looking forward to welcoming you all at the event.”
The Foundation’s commitment to excellence in nutrition and safety has been recognized with the CII Food Safety Awards 2023, reflecting the outstanding performance and adherence to food safety standards across its network of kitchens. Looking ahead, the Foundation is poised to broaden its impact through expanded outreach, enhanced partnerships, and innovative meal delivery solutions, thus ensuring the programme’s sustainability and growth. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a cornerstone of the national effort to blend education with nutrition. As the operational partner of GOI’s PM Poshan Abhiyaan, the Foundation has proudly crossed the threshold of delivering 4 billion nutritious meals to schoolchildren across the nation. This landmark underscores the profound impact of the initiative on millions of lives, ensuring the bright future of children is not dimmed by the shadow of hunger. Founded in the year 2000 with the humble beginning of nourishing 1,500 schoolchildren in five schools, Akshaya Patra has now flourished to serve over 2.2 million children daily across 24,000+ schools in 16 states and two Union Territories.
This expansion reflects the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to fostering health, education, and empowerment throughout India. Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice-Chairman of Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, “We are immensely proud of reaching this significant milestone and remain dedicated to our vision of a future where no child in India is deprived of education because of hunger. “Our journey is far from over, and we continue to seek the support of our partners, donors, and volunteers. Together, we are making a lasting difference in the lives of millions of children across the country.” In partnership with various state governments and GOI under the aegis of the PM Poshan scheme, Akshaya Patra has been instrumental in providing access to nutritious meals to schoolchildren, thereby supporting their health and enabling better educational outcomes. This initiative is a stride towards fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and Quality Education (SDG 4). The journey of the Foundation is marked by significant milestones, including the achievement of serving 1 billion meals by 2012, 2 billion by 2016, and 3 billion by 2019.
This journey has been graced by the support and recognition from esteemed dignitaries such as then President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The inclusion of millets in the school meal programme, especially highlighted at the ASEAN-India Millet Festival 2023, signifies the Foundation’s dedication to sustainable nutrition and food security. Speaking on the Foundation’s growth over the past year, Shridhar Venkat, Chief Executive Officer of Akshaya Patra Foundation, said Innovation has played an integral role in our growth. Today, we have 9000 employees and 72 kitchens across 17 states and 2 union territories. We are also aligned with the International Year of Millets and have crafted unique recipes that cater to our students’ pallets. “We are also happy to announce ‘Music for Meals’ and honored to have renowned artists such as Pravin Godkhindi & Vijay Prakash to support the cause & as a token of appreciation for our donors, supporters and well-wishers.”