In a landmark moment of service and scale, The Akshaya Patra Foundation commemorated the milestone of serving 5 billion meals alongside the completion of 25 years of dedicated service to the nation. Held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, the event brought together purpose, policy and compassion in a powerful celebration of India’s progress towards a nourished and educated future.
The ceremony was graced by Hon’ble President of India Droupadi Murmu as the Chief Guest, with Hon’ble Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan as the Guest of Honour. The event was also attended by the Foundation’s leadership, including Chairman Madhu Pandit Dasa and Vice-Chairman Chanchalapathi Dasa, alongside trustees, government officials, partners, donors and beneficiaries.
Centred around the theme ‘Suposhit and Sushikshit Bharat for Viksit Bharat’, the event underscored the collective responsibility of ensuring that every child in India has access to both nutrition and education, essential pillars for nation-building.
Addressing the gathering, President Droupadi Murmu lauded the Foundation’s impact, stating, “Akshaya Patra stands out as an exemplar of social innovation based on the virtue of compassion.” Highlighting the long-term significance of its work, she added, “Every meal is an investment in our nation’s human capital, resulting in a healthy, educated youth demographic dividend.” She further noted with pride, “It fills my heart with joy to see that these youngsters are able to pursue their ambitions due to the school lunch programme.”
Echoing this sentiment, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan emphasised the national importance of nutrition-led education, saying, “Nutritious food reaching every child in the country is not just a service but a resolution for the future.” He further remarked, “This partnership stands as a shining example of how government, society and institutions can work together to address some of the nation’s most complex challenges.” Reinforcing the larger vision, he added, “Viksit Bharat by 2047 will only be possible when every child in the country is well-fed and every child stays in school.”
Reflecting on the journey, Chairman Madhu Pandit Dasa shared, “As we commemorate 25 years of service and the milestone of serving 5 billion meals, we reiterate our commitment to the vision that no one should ever go hungry.” He also highlighted the momentum of national efforts, noting, “These milestones strengthen our resolve to expand our reach and support more children across the country.”
Vice-Chairman Chanchalapathi Dasa expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, stating, “We are deeply grateful to the Government of India, our donors, partners and well-wishers for supporting our mission to ensure child nutrition and education.” He added, “We are confident that this public-private partnership will continue to help more children access nutrition and education, enabling them to contribute to a New and Developed India.”
As an implementing partner of the Government of India’s PM POSHAN initiative, The Akshaya Patra Foundation today serves over 2.35 million children daily across 16 states and 3 union territories, through its network of large-scale, technology-enabled kitchens. The Foundation aspires to reach 3 million children every day by 2030.
The milestone event also reflected on Akshaya Patra’s remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Bengaluru to becoming one of the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programmes. Each milestone, from the 1 billionth to the 5 billionth meal, stands as a testament to the power of sustained commitment and collective action.
As the evening concluded, it marked more than a celebration of numbers it reaffirmed a shared national vision: that when a country nourishes its children, it nourishes its future.
