Akshaya Patra Kitchen Story

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in India implementing the mid-day meal programme across the country. The Foundation began its service way back in 2000. Since then there has been no looking back. Beginning with feeding 1,500 children in five Government schools of Bangalore city of Karnataka state, the Foundation has strategically increased is beneficiary base while also expanding to different locations. From having kitchen at just one location, Akshaya Patra gradually moved on to having kitchens at 23 more locations. Today Akshaya Patra is operational in 24 locations across 10 states.

Initially Akshaya Patra had only Centralised Kitchen units but gradually the need was felt to feed in the remote areas too. This made way to the adoption of Decentralised Kitchen format. As the name suggests, The Centralised Kitchen format of Akshaya Patra is a mechanised unit that can cook up to one lakh meals per day. Centralised kitchen units are meant to for large scale feeding and thus serve as node kitchen for a group of Government schools in and around the kitchen location. The centralised format of Akshaya Patra kitchen is mostly followed in urban and semi-urban locations. The terrain, accessibility and construction challenges that prevail in remote locations make the decentralised format suitable for such areas. The decentralised kitchens are run by Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the guidance and supervision of Akshaya Patra’s kitchen process and operations module.

The similarity that runs through each kitchen while preparing meal for millions of children each is the strict and mandatory process of maintaining hygiene, cleanliness and nutrition. How the Akshaya Patra kitchens achieve this day in and day out? The answer is - compulsory adherence to Food Safety Management System in handling, preparing and delivering food to prevent food borne illness. At present 10 of the total kitchens are ISO 22000:2005 Certified and the remaining are on the quest towards achieving the same.

The state-of-the-art kitchen of Akshaya Patra has received prime time slot broadcast – ‘Shiksha Ka Mahabhog’ in the popular series Mega Kitchen of National Geographic Channel. A click at Akshaya Patra Kitchens will provide you a detailed draft about the functioning of the kitchens in feeding over 1.4 million children across India.

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The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO in India works to eliminate classroom hunger through its mid-day meal programme Akshaya Patra reaches out to over 1.4 million children a day.

Matter of Rs. 750

In current times, when we think of shopping does Rs. 750 have much value? How many items can Rs.750 buy for us from the menu of a posh restaurant? If we walk into a branded store, would it be a joke if we are carrying just Rs. 750 with us?  Leave aside the above expenses, but if we just focus on running a week’s expense with Rs. 750, does it seem anywhere near to ‘possible’? More often than not, all of the above instances will repeatedly bring us to only one conclusion i.e. Rs.750 is of not much value in today’s world.

Now let’s look at a different scenario. It has been witnessed that for more than a decade The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a mid-day meal NGO has been feeding over 1.4 million children at a cost of Rs. 750 per child for an entire year. This means to say Akshaya Patra needs just Rs.750 to feed mid-day meal to one child for an entire school year! The question arises how does Akshaya Patra do so?

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is actively involved in implementing the Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme for the past 15 years. It is operational in 24 locations covering Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Reaching out to more than 10,000 Government schools, it provides mid-day meal to over 1.4 million children every day. Akshaya Patra works in a Public Private Partnership model where it receives support from the Central and State Governments in the form of grants and subsidies. This model of operation allows Akshaya Patra to receive funds and resources from both individual and organisational donors.

Akshaya Patra is the pioneer in using technology in the mid-day meal sector. It harnesses the potential of technology to optimise and enhance kitchen processes and operations to provide fresh, hygienic, nutritious and tasty meal to the children. The acumen to utilise and manage resources in a well-planned, strategic and sustainable manner allows Akshaya Patra to dish out meals for a child at Rs. 750 for an entire year.

Click Stories of Hope to see the transformations that Rs. 750 has made over the years. Click here to see which Bollywood actor is campaigning to contribute Rs. 750.

So next time you have Rs. 750 with you, remember it is much more valuable than it appears!

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Feeding the future of India

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Indian NGO implementing the Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme across Government schools. It was initiated in the year 2000 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Initially it began feeding in five Government schools of the Bengaluru city. Witnessing the overwhelming response for the need of the programme, Akshaya Patra strategically began expanding its operations to other parts of the state and eventually to other states of India. Currently, Akshaya Patra is feeding Government school children of 24 locations across 10 states namely: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. In total, Akshaya Patra feeds more than 1.4 million children every day across the country.

These beneficiaries come from humble background but bring with them high aspirations. They are determined enough to not let their unfavourable socio-economic status come as a hurdle when it is the question of pursuing their dreams. At Akshaya Patra, each meal has its own unique story. Hence, the NGO ensures that it provides nutritious, hygienic and tasty food on each day. It also designs its menu based on the location to cater to the local palate. For example: the menu of Akshaya Patra kitchen at Karnataka will cater to South Indian palate whereas the menu item of Akshaya Patra Gujarat will cater to North Indian palate.

Over the years of implementation of mid-day meal, the Government of India along with partner NGOs has witnessed positive impact on the growth, development and regularity to school among children. Studies have also brought to fore that there has been increase in enrolment and attendance, also decreasing the rate of dropout. Mid-Day Meal Scheme has shown significant results in countering classroom hunger among children. These positive alterations during the growth years of children give them the confidence to lead a self-sustaining life in the future. It instils in them the determination and certainty of being able to come out of the vicious cycle of poverty, hunger and illiteracy.

Join Akshaya Patra in feeding the future of India and creating sustainable assets.

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Impact of mid-day meal on growing children

Over the years, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme has proved itself to be a supporting pillar in the overall development of children even at the grass root level of the society. The Scheme that was initiated by Government of India is being implemented by various Non-Governmental Organisations too. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one among the various NGOs. Akshaya Patra began providing school lunch at five Government schools in Bengaluru city of Karnataka in 2000. This was even before the official central mandate in 2003 by the Government of India to provide free cooked mid-day meal at all Government schools. But after the mandate was passed, Akshaya Patra partnered with the Government of India in providing cooked meals at schools. Since then, Akshaya Patra has been working in a Public-Private Partnership model to achieve the six objectives of the Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme i.e.:

• Eliminating classroom hunger
• Increasing school enrolment
• Increasing school attendance
• Improving socialization among castes 
• Addressing malnutrition, and
• Women empowerment

During the course of implementing the mid-day meal programme for 15 years now, Akshaya Patra has also conducted impact studies of the programme in association with noted research organisations. The Akshaya Patra kitchen process and operations has also become a part of prestigious institutes like Harvard Business School. Below are mention of few impact studies that clearly showcase the significance and potential of the mid-day meal programme in eliminating classroom hunger, improving child health and also increasing enrolment and concentration of children.

• ‘Assessment of Mid-Day Meal Programme In 8 States’ by Sigma Research and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
• ‘Impact Assessment Study Report of The Akshaya Patra Foundation - HPCL Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects (2012-13)’ by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
• ‘Report on Measuring the Impact of Mid- Day-Meal on Child Growth’ by Department of Public Health Manipal University
• ‘Evaluation of the Mid-Day Meal Programme – June 2012’ by Kusuma Trust U.K.
• ‘Impact study 2012’ by Edumedia
• ‘Impact Assessment of The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s Mid-Day Meal Programme 2010’ by A.C. Nielsen
• ‘Akshaya Patra: Feeding India's School Children’ by Harvard business school

A click on Akshaya Patra Impact Studies will take you to the details of each of the above mentioned studies. To support Akshaya Patra, donate online to charity.

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Bollywood Star Ranveer Singh campaigns for Akshaya Patra!

Since inception in June 2000, Akshaya Patra has seen involvement of people from all walks of life towards the noble cause of feeding children. Akshaya Patra always provides a platform for existing supporters as well as invites new supporters to get involved in nation building through feeding the young hearts. Over the years of implementing the mid-day meal programme, Akshaya Patra has witnessed that each meal has its own story and each beneficiary has his or her own special dream. Thus the Foundation has always thrived to provide quality, hygienic and tasty mid-day meal each day to each of the beneficiaries.

Currently, Akshaya Patra is operational in 24 locations of 10 states. Each day, Akshaya Patra feeds mid-day meal to more than 1.4 million children across Government schools. It aims to feed 5 million children by 2020. The task indeed is humongous but not unattainable. Working towards the mission, Akshaya Patra welcomes participation from each member of the country. The participation could be in the form of skill, time, funds, awareness creation or even volunteering. The recent partnership with Ching’s Secret is an exemplary one as it has brought in Ranveer Singh, the Brand Ambassador of Ching’s Secret and popular Bollywood Star to campaign for Akshaya Patra.

Ranveer has been actively involved in the planning and execution of the campaign called 'India Ke Hunger Ki Bajao'. The campaign aims to feed at least 1 million children across the country. Ranveer’s sincere support towards the children was witnessed as he offered his support to 10,000 children and sponsored their mid-day meals for an entire year at the launch of the campaign. Along with Akshaya Patra beneficiaries as Ranveer appeals in this video it just takes 10 seconds and a minimum amount of Rs. 750 to feed a child for an entire year. This amount has the potential to nourish and change the life of millions of young citizens. The campaign will receive broadcast in television, radio and digital platforms. It is also being supported by well-known brands like Yash Raj Films, India TV, Red FM, Reliance Fresh, Patel Bros., Paytm, Choitrams and Fluence.

Managing Director of Capital Foods (Ching's Secret's parent company), Ajay Gupta opines that it’s time to give back to the society and education of children will definitely lead to a better future of the country. Ranveer Singh too adds that he loves kids and being able to be involved with the cause of Akshaya Patra gives him immense joy. He believes that being the role of Indian youth, he will be able to spread the message and bring in maximum participation for the cause.

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World Hunger Day with Akshaya Patra

World Hunger Day is observed to raise awareness about the critical issue of hunger that the world faces. World Hunger Day is also observed to spread the word about achievements of those who battled out of the hunger situation and are now able to meet their basic requirements of everyday life. World Hunger Day is also a platform to encourage participation from both developed and developing nations to come together to end poverty and hunger. This year it will be observed on May 28th.

Studies reveal that hunger kills more people than any other fatal disease like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis – all combined together. Researches also reveal that one-eighth of the total world population i.e. 842 million people live in extreme hunger. Among the millions who succumb to hunger each year, two millions are children. This hunger population not only belong to zones that are affected by famines, droughts or any natural calamity, rather 90% of this population belong the developing nations where income opportunity, education opportunity and basic health needs pose a tougher barrier than unavailability of food.

Eradication of poverty and hunger is one of the most critical Millennium Development Goals. Though there has been a trend in decrease of chronic hunger due to various initiatives and programmes across the globe, yet the issue persists critically in the developing nations. One-third of all deaths that occur among children less than five years of age residing in developing nations are linked to under-nourishment. When the basic necessity of food is not met, it is bound that education takes a backseat.

Along with Governmental bodies there are many Non-Governmental Organisations that have taken up the cause of ending hunger. The Akshaya Patra Foundation works on a similar ground. By implementing the mid-day meal programme, this wants to provide unlimited food to children at Government school so that they can continue their education. If one entire generation is educated it has the potential to lift liberate the society from the clutches of hunger and poverty. Akshaya Patra currently feeds more than 1.4 million children across India. The nutritious meal encourages children to join school, complete education and equips them to become resourceful enough to meet the basic needs. Through mid-day meal, Akshaya Patra is preparing a generation which will positively alter the present the scenario of hunger in the nation. Observe World Hunger Day with Akshaya Patra. Volunteer, Fundraise or Donate for Akshaya Patra.

References:

• http://www.thehungerproject.co.uk/getinvolved/worldhungerday/world-hunger-day-purpose/
• https://www.wfp.org/stories/10-hunger-facts-2014 

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Akshaya Patra wishes a very Happy Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is observed as a day to honour and respect our mothers, the essence of motherhood and the maternal bond itself. It began as a celebration in the United States way back in early 20th century.

Eventually, it is seen to be celebrated cross the globe. Mother’s Day is celebrated annually across many countries. However the dates of celebration differ from country to country. March and May are the most common months of celebrating Mother’s Day. In India, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May each year. The significance of celebrating Mother’s Day may range from scriptural references to the general understanding of honouring our mother and motherhood. This year 10th of May will be celebrated as Mother’s Day.

Traits like care, love, nurture, nourish, patience comes naturally to a mother. Mothers worldwide go to any extent to provide the best for their child be it food, education, or day-to-day learning.  It is seen that mothers across the world thrive to provide the most nutritious and hygienic food to the child. Home-made food or mom-cooked food is something we all look forward to and relish wholeheartedly. Even if the child is a fussy eater the mother will bring in her most innovative cooking tactics to make sure that nutrition intake is taken care of. 

Taking inspiration from mothers care and love The Akshaya Patra Foundation ensures that mid-day meal is cooked with love. The women employees at the kitchen are mothers of children too and each of them understands the importance of clean, hygienic and nutritious meal in the growth of a child. Be it centralised kitchen or decentralised, all women worker shares the same sentiment of motherhood in preparing millions of mid-day meals each day. A recent video of Akshaya Patra ‘Morsel of Love’ illustrates the involvement of women employees in the kitchen in preparation of mid-day meal. Akshaya Patra salutes all the women employees and wishes all of them and all the mothers across the world a very happy Mother’s Day.

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