Foundation’s 25-year journey hailed as a cornerstone of India’s nutrition mission & a key driver of “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision.
New Delhi, NFAPost: The Akshaya Patra Foundation commemorated a historic milestone at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking the serving of its five billionth meal to schoolchildren in a ceremony attended by President Droupadi Murmu and Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan.
Celebrating 25 years of service, the event underscored the foundation’s pivotal role in advancing the national vision of “Suposhan aur Sushikshit Bharat se Viksit Bharat”—linking nutrition and education to India’s long-term development goals.
A Model of Public-Private Partnership
Speaking at the ceremony, Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan described Akshaya Patra as a “living example of Indian ethos”, highlighting its unique model of collaboration between government, society and institutions.
“The foundation currently serves around 2.5 million children daily across 25,000 schools in 19 states, acting as a key implementation partner of the PM POSHAN (Poshan Shakti Nirman) Scheme—the world’s largest school meal programme. The initiative has been significantly strengthened by societal contributions exceeding ₹4,000 crore, surpassing government support of approximately ₹3,000 crore,” said Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan.
Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan also pointed out that where the government, society and institutions work together, even the most difficult challenges can be solved in a successful way.
Nutrition as National Investment
In her address, President Droupadi Murmu framed the programme as a strategic investment in India’s human capital, rather than a welfare initiative.
“The nutritious food children receive today is an investment in our nation’s future workforce,” said President Droupadi Muru, linking improved nutrition to better education outcomes and economic growth.
Indian President also highlighted research showing that school meal programmes have boosted enrolment, attendance, retention and academic performance, reinforcing their importance in nation-building.
The President added that these efforts would play a vital role in achieving India’s ambition of becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047.
A Shared National Responsibility
The ceremony also featured former beneficiaries of the programme, now pursuing professional careers—living proof of its long-term impact.
Murmu emphasised that ensuring children’s well-being is a collective responsibility, calling on parents, educators, institutions and industry to contribute to building a strong foundation for future generations.
“The safe and bright future of our children is not just the responsibility of the government, but our shared responsibility,” she said.
A Mission Beyond Milestones
From its modest beginnings to becoming a global benchmark in school nutrition, Akshaya Patra’s journey reflects the power of scale, innovation and compassion.
As India advances toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the foundation’s work continues to demonstrate that investing in nutrition and education is central to sustainable national progress—ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and contribute to the nation’s future.
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