Akshaya Patra reached its goal of feeding one million underprivileged children daily by 2010 on April 1, 2009. The organization increased the number of children served in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh and now feeds 1,008,518 children through 17 kitchens in seven states.

Akshaya Patra’s vision is that no child shall be deprived of education because of hunger. The world’s largest NGO-run midday meal program, Akshaya Patra is a public-private partnership that combines good management, innovative technology and smart engineering to deliver school lunch at a fraction of the cost of similar programs in other parts of the world. It costs $28 to feed a child daily for the entire year. For many of the children this is their only complete meal for the day. This gives them an incentive to come to school, stay in school and provides them with the necessary nutrients they need to develop their cognitive abilities to focus on learning.

“It is a victory for the deserving children. Their smiles will transform our lives too,” said Madhu Sridhar, Akshaya Patra USA’s president and CEO. “With strong social conscience, a passion combined with discipline, integrity and professionalism, the team – from those in the kitchens, to the supporters, to those in the board room and everyone in between – has brought us to this important milestone for Akshaya Patra.”

Upon reaching this landmark the organization has rededicated itself to a much larger goal. The organization’s next milestone is to serve 5 million children by 2020.

“One thing is certain from this experience,” said Madhu Pandit Das, the founder and chair of Akshaya Patra India. “Boundless compassion is waiting to explode into this world to lessen the suffering provided we involve more and more willing human hearts, minds and hands.”

Akshaya Patra’s kitchens are specially designed by engineers to leverage technology. The organization also sources its food stocks from local markets, thereby reducing costs associated with transportation and food spoilage while supporting the local economy. In a short time, the foundation has grown to become the largest, and certainly most innovative, school lunch program in the world. Akshaya Patra is a great example of what a non-profit organization can achieve-- a cost effective, scalable solution with high quality service delivery. For more information please visit www.foodforeducation.org.

 

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