Bengaluru, Dec 25 : In a significant step towards improving educational outcomes through nutritional support, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, the world’s largest NGO-run school meal program and a key partner of the PM POSHAN initiative, inaugurated its 76th kitchen in Cheemasandra Village, Avalahalli Panchayat, Bengaluru. This milestone was achieved with the support of Canara Bank as the anchor patron donor, marking Akshaya Patra’s sixth kitchen in Bengaluru and its ongoing commitment to combating hunger and fostering education.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by prominent dignitaries, including Manjula Aravind Limbavali, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency, Bengaluru, and Aravind Limbavali, former Minister of Karnataka. Lathakumari IAS, CEO of Bengaluru Urban District Zilla Panchayat, was also present. Chanchalpathi Dasa, Co-Founder & Vice-Chairman of Akshaya Patra, and Gunakara Rama Dasa, Regional President – Bengaluru Cluster, represented the foundation, alongside Satyanarayana Raju K, Managing Director & CEO of Canara Bank.
Speaking at the event, MLA Manjula Aravind Limbavali said, “I am proud to witness the launch of Akshaya Patra’s 76th kitchen, which symbolizes their dedication to providing nutritious meals to children. This initiative strengthens Karnataka’s future by nourishing young minds and communities.”
Chanchalpathi Dasa remarked, “This new kitchen, supported by Canara Bank and the Government of Karnataka, is a crucial step toward providing over 7,500 students with nutritious meals daily. We are immensely grateful to our partners for their unwavering support in creating a brighter future through education and nourishment.”
Satyanarayana Raju K of Canara Bank expressed pride in supporting the initiative, stating, “Contributing to Akshaya Patra’s mission aligns with our commitment to community welfare. This kitchen reflects our dedication to uplifting society, especially in Karnataka.”
Spanning 5,000 square feet, the kitchen is designed to cater to 7,500 students across 60 government and government-aided schools in the Bidarahalli and Cheemasandra regions. Operating on a strict four-hour cook-to-consumption timeline, the facility ensures the delivery of hot, nutritious meals while emphasizing quality and efficiency.
The kitchen also supports local employment and procurement and incorporates semi-solar power, with plans to adopt more electric vehicles for sustainable operations.
Customized and Sustainable Nutrition
The meals prepared at the new facility are tailored to local tastes, featuring dishes like vegetable pulav, bisibele bath, and moong dal payasam, ensuring both nutrition and palatability. Akshaya Patra also implements the *Ksheera Bhagya* program, providing milk to schoolchildren in Karnataka to combat nutritional deficiencies.
