As Akshaya Patra Foundation celebrates 25 years of service, it is celebrating the historic milestone of serving its 5 billionth meal, which will be honored by the President of India on March 17. In this interview, Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder-Chairman of Akshaya Patra Foundation, reflects on his journey from feeding 1,500 children in Bengaluru to reaching 2.35 million students daily across India. They discussed the important role of technology, public-private partnerships and the mission to ensure that no child is deprived of education due to hunger.
The upcoming milestone of 5 billionth meal served by Draupadi Murmu on 17th March is an important moment for Akshaya Patra Foundation. How would you describe the journey that led to this achievement?
On March 17, we will have the pleasure of Smt. Draupadi Murmu Ji, Honorable President of India, to grace the event to commemorate Akshaya Patra’s 5 billion meals milestone and our 25 years of service to the society. We are also grateful to the Honorable Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan for agreeing to join us as the guest of honor on this special occasion.
Srila Prabhupada instructed his followers that no one should go hungry within 10 miles of an ISKCON temple, and he believed in the power of collective effort. That belief is being confirmed every day since we started feeding.
Twenty-five years ago, we started feeding 1,500 children from five schools from our kitchen in the ISKCON Bangalore temple, with no idea where we were going. What started as a simple effort to serve a few thousand children in 2000 has grown to become one of the largest school feeding programs in the world, reaching 2.35 million children across India every day.
This journey has been possible with the cooperation of the Government of India and State Governments under the PM Poshan Initiative. Under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this flagship program of the Government of India continues to highlight the importance of nutrition as the foundation of learning. Our journey has also been sustained by the unwavering support of donors, partners, volunteers and well-wishers who have believed in this mission for over 25 years. This is a collective achievement.
- Akshay Patra recently crossed the milestone of serving billion meals. What does this achievement represent for the organization and the communities it serves?
The five billion milestone shows the profound impact our program has had on the lives of children. It gives us great pleasure to see that many of our past beneficiaries who were well-nourished and well-educated are playing a major role in improving the quality of life of their families. That is the compound interest of the mid-day meal. It’s not just about nutrition; It’s about breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. This important milestone is an opportunity to renew our commitment and ensure that no child in India has to choose between food and education.
2. School meal programs often have a direct impact on classroom attendance and learning. What changes have you seen in your work over the years in children’s participation in school?
When we started in Bengaluru in 2000, attendance was low in many of the schools we served. Within a few months of introducing midday meals, teachers reported that children were not only attending more regularly, but also arriving earlier because they knew food was waiting.
Over the past few years, I have met school heads and teachers across the country who told me that most of the children in their schools are coming only for food. Once they come to school, teachers can teach. And once the hunger is satisfied, the mind is free to learn. You can’t ask a hungry child to concentrate on learning.
Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in enrolment. We have seen that school dropout rates have reduced, especially among girls. Our vision is simple: no child in India will be deprived of education because of hunger. Data shows that reducing classroom hunger is one of the most cost-effective educational interventions.
3. India is home to diverse food cultures and dietary habits. How does Akshaya Patra design menus that are nutritionally balanced and locally acceptable?
India’s diversity is evident in its food options. A child in Uttar Pradesh or Rajasthan would prefer roti-sabzi, while a child in Karnataka or Telangana would prefer rice with sambar or rasam. Each region has its own staple food, so our menu is also designed to suit local tastes.
At each of the 78 locations we serve, menus are designed with local food habits in mind. We ensure that food meets the calorie and protein requirements prescribed as per MDM guidelines, the kitchen model allows us to standardize the nutrition profile. Ingredients, spices and combinations are taken from local preferences because no one can eat nutritious food that children do not eat.
4. Large-scale social programs depend heavily on logistics. What are the biggest operational challenges in delivering fresh food to schools every day, and how does the Foundation address them?
Logistics plays a vital role in feeding 2.35 million children across 16 states and 3 union territories every school day as we have to ensure that hot meals are delivered to schools on time. Our kitchens can cook thousands of midday meals in just a few hours, taking advantage of technology and innovation. Our vehicles are custom-designed, the stainless steel containers are insulated, and our routes are optimized to cover as many schools as possible within the delivery window. Akshaya Patra’s efficient systems and processes have become case studies at leading international institutions including Harvard University, Stanford University and London Business School.
5. Over the years, how have corporate partnerships and philanthropy contributed to strengthening Akshaya Patra’s mission?
Corporate partnerships and individual philanthropy have been vital to our growth. We work through a public-private partnership model, where the government provides grants for food and we raise the remaining resources through the generous support of corporate partners and individual donors. Every rupee contributed by a corporate or individual directly translates into feeding a child.
We raise funds for setting up kitchen infrastructure. Establishing a kitchen capable of preparing meals for 50,000 people is a significant capital investment. Many of our business partners have contributed from their CSR budget to make this possible.
6. With increasing awareness about child nutrition, is the Foundation exploring any new programs or initiatives to further improve the health outcomes of children?
While midday meals play an important role in aiding children’s education and nutrition, many children come to school in the morning with little or nothing to eat. With this in mind, we have launched a morning nutrition program to complement the midday meal program and provide a simple, nutritious start to children’s school day. The idea is to ensure that children start their school day with the energy and nutrition they need to concentrate, learn and participate in class. We are currently implementing the program in six states and are exploring the possibility of expanding it across the states and union territories where we serve, with a goal of reaching 30 lakh children by 2030.
7. Volunteers and community supporters often play an important role in social initiatives. How has community participation helped expand the reach and impact of Akshaya Patra?
The story of Akshay Patra revolves around people from different walks of life coming together for a common purpose: to ensure that no child is deprived of education due to hunger.
At the kitchen level, we have over 9,500 employees from local communities who prepare and distribute mid-day meals to 2.35 million children every school day. At the school level, midday meal workers, many of whom are local women from the same communities whose children they serve, play a vital role in ensuring that meals reach students on time. Parents, community members and school management committees also actively support and encourage the programme. Additionally, we have volunteers and well-wishers who contribute their time and energy to spread awareness, strengthen the program and garner support.
At our all-female kitchen in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh, local women manage the operations from start to finish. This initiative not only provides nutritious food to children but also economically empowers families by creating livelihood opportunities within the community.
Therefore, active community participation plays a major role in Akshaya Patra’s food mission.
8. In an increasingly technology-driven world, how are data and digital tools helping organizations improve efficiency, transparency and monitoring?
- Technology is the foundation of enhancing our operations. From the very beginning, when we designed our first kitchen in Bengaluru, we realized that only through technology could we feed thousands of children consistently, safely and cost-effectively. In our kitchens, semi-automatic systems improve sustainability as we prepare thousands of meals in a matter of hours. In logistics, route optimization ensures timely delivery to hundreds of schools. Looking ahead, we see significant potential for using data for predictive purchasing, ensuring the right ingredients are available at the right time, and real-time quality tracking across all our kitchens.
- As Akshaya Patra completes 25 years of service, what lessons has the organization learned that can help shape the future of large-scale food security programs?
The last twenty-five years have taught us many lessons and I would like to share some of them with you.
First, causes rooted in selfless service attract people who share the same sense of commitment. At many points, when we faced resource constraints, support came in ways we did not expect. It reinforced our belief that work dedicated to uplifting others often inspires goodwill and support beyond the organization.
The second is that scale requires robust systems. Good intentions alone cannot feed 2.35 million children every day. You need disciplined processes, the right technology, trained people, and a culture of continuous improvement.
The third is that public-private partnerships are necessary. Government brings policy, access and funding. NGOs bring operational innovation and agility, and mobilize resources. In fact, the PM Poshan Yojana is a global case study of what government policy and civil society implementation can achieve.
Fourth and most importantly, the midday meal program is a strategic investment in human capital. Every child we nurture and educate today is a contributor to the future of India.
9. Finally, what message would you like to share with organizations and individuals who want to contribute to solving hunger and malnutrition in India?
For 25 years, we have seen that a simple, nutritious midday meal can make a difference to a child’s progress. In our tradition, Annadan, i.e. distributing food, is considered the highest form of charity. By ensuring that a child is nourished and able to learn, we are not just feeding; We are helping to shape the future.
We have already demonstrated that hunger and malnutrition can be effectively addressed when societies come together. When collective compassion turns into action, we can make this world more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. We welcome all socially sensitive minds and generous hands to contribute towards a hunger free nation and world.
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