Bengaluru : The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a non-profit committed to providing food for education to children in Government and Government-Aided schools, has strengthened its partnership with BW LPG India, the largest operator of Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) in the country. This collaboration highlights their shared commitment to enhancing child nutrition and education nationwide through the PM POSHAN program.

Since 2017, BW LPG India has played a vital role in India’s LPG supply, contributing about 25% of the nation’s LPG imports. The partnership, formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in late 2023, designates BW LPG India as the energy partner for nine of Akshaya Patra’s centralized kitchens in Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. In just four months, this partnership facilitated the preparation of approximately 12 million mid-day meals for over 2,200 schools.

To further support this mission, BW LPG India recently funded the construction of dining sheds in two schools in Bikaner, Rajasthan. With a renewed MoU for 2024-25, the partnership aims to support an additional three kitchens, projecting the provision of nearly 42.7 million meals for the year. Kristian Sorensen, Chairman of BW LPG, expressed, “Our role as Akshaya Patra’s energy partner has been deeply rewarding. Together, we are using our LPG expertise to positively impact children’s lives.”

This collaboration also includes a humanitarian aspect. BW LPG India donated INR 20,00,000 to support Assam flood relief, providing sustenance for 1,667 families. Additionally, they are piloting a project in Odisha to replace a briquette boiler with an LPG boiler for a kitchen serving 580 rural schools, which will improve clean cooking and meal quality.

As Akshaya Patra and BW LPG India roll out their latest MoU, running from October 2024 to March 2026, their joint efforts are set to transform the nutritional and educational landscape for underprivileged children across India, fostering both immediate and long-term benefits.