New Delhi, 17 March 2026: The Akshaya Patra Foundation, which began its service for children in 2000 by feeding 1,500 children in five schools in Bengaluru, Karnataka, commemorated the milestone of serving five billion cumulative meals today at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi.
The Honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dharmendra Pradhan, the Honourable Minister of Education, was also present as a Guest of Honour along with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Foundation, Madhu Pandit Dasa and Chanchalapathi Dasa, respectively.
During her speech, President Murmu commended Akshaya Patra’s tireless efforts over 25 years in addressing child malnutrition by serving mid-day meals and inspiring children to continue their education. She said: “The safe and bright future of our children is not solely the responsibility of the government. Rather, it is the shared responsibility of all of us. I appreciate the entire team of this organisation and hope that you, with this dedication and commitment, will continue to contribute your invaluable efforts to the service of society and the nation.” She also congratulated former beneficiaries of Akshaya Patra who were present on the occasion and expressed her joy in seeing them realise their dreams and contribute to the nation’s development.
This event, themed Suposhit and Sushikshit Bharat for Viksit Bharat (From a Well-Nourished and Well-Educated India to a Developed India), marked a watershed moment in Akshaya Patra’s history. A journey that started with a humble goal, ‘No child within 10 miles of ISKON temple should go hungry,’ has now grown to aspire for a day when ‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.’ Today, the Foundation serves 2.35 million children every day across the country.
As it celebrates 25 years of service, the organisation underscores the importance of Public-Private Partnerships for the effective implementation of large-scale programmes and how collective effort can advance the nation in human development.
