Bengaluru : The Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF) officially opened its fifth kitchen in Chikkajala, Bengaluru, today, marking the 75th centralized kitchen nationwide. This significant achievement comes with support from the Thakkar Family Foundation. Strategically positioned, this facility will serve schools in Yelahanka, Jakkur, Hebbal, and nearby areas, delivering over 35,000 nutritious mid-day meals daily to more than 200 government and government-aided schools, all while adhering to a 4-hour cook-to-consumption timeframe. This initiative underscores the Foundation’s dedication to innovation, community engagement, and the common good.
NR Narayana Murthy, Founder of Infosys Ltd., expressed his gratitude to the Thakkar family and the Government of Karnataka for their vital support. He noted, “It’s inspiring to witness an event aimed at providing hope to underprivileged children in India. The Thakkar family’s contribution symbolizes hope and faith. Education thrives when children have access to nutritious food, a fundamental belief of the Akshaya Patra Foundation. With the Government of Karnataka covering 55-56% of meal costs, Akshaya Patra has successfully provided meals to 2.25 million children across 24,000 schools in rural and remote areas. The Foundation’s commitment to delivering balanced meals ensures every child is nourished and empowered. Together, we can transform lives and foster a brighter future for all.”
Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder-Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, stated, “First and foremost, I thank the Government of Karnataka for allowing us to serve the children of our state. Their ongoing support through grants and subsidies, and our role in the Chief Minister’s ‘Ksheera Bhagya’ program to provide milk, have been crucial for our mission to ensure that children do not have to choose between education and food.” He continued, “Since our partnership began in 2003, it has grown stronger, enabling us to support over 450,000 children in more than 3,000 schools in Karnataka. Akshaya Patra has provided nearly 1.2 billion mid-day meals in the state.”
Krishna Byre Gowda, Hon’ble Minister of Revenue, Government of Karnataka, praised the initiative, emphasizing the alarming disparity between rich and poor in India. He expressed his hope that more affluent individuals would follow the examples set by contributors like Janardhan Thakkar and Narayana Murthy, emphasizing the importance of investing in societal well-being.
The newly inaugurated Chikkajala kitchen spans 30,000 sq. ft. and features advanced gravity-flow infrastructure, an 80 KWp solar plant for energy efficiency, and a 70KLD Effluent Treatment Plant to minimize environmental impact. It also includes a milk reconstitution plant under the ‘Ksheera Bhagya’ scheme, capable of producing 3,500 liters of milk.
Dignitaries, including N R Narayana Murthy and representatives from the Thakkar Family Foundation, attended the ceremony. Janardan Thakkar, Chairman of Thakkar Ltd., highlighted the importance of nutrition for children’s education and pledged ongoing support for Akshaya Patra’s mission.
Akshaya Patra’s meals in Chikkajala are tailored to local tastes, featuring dishes like vegetable pulav, bisibele bath, and various sambar options. This ambitious kitchen represents the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds and fostering community participation, healthy eating habits, and sustainability.
As a not-for-profit organization, Akshaya Patra addresses classroom hunger and malnutrition by implementing the PM POSHAN Scheme in schools, aiming to bring children to school with wholesome food. Since its inception in 2000, the Foundation has grown from serving 1,500 children in five schools to one of India’s largest school feeding programs, currently serving over 2.2 million children across 23,000+ schools in 16 states and 2 union territories.
For more information, visit: www.akshayapatra.org.
