New Delhi, Sept. 9 -- Akshaya Patra is an epitome of the Nexus of Good. In fact, the Nexus of Good itself was inspired by my visit to a school in 2016, when I had just taken over as Secretary, School Education, Government of India. I personally tasted the delicious food served to students at a government primary school and learned about Akshaya Patra during my visit to the state headquarters. Akshaya Patra now completes 25 years of its existence.
In the early 1970s, Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, observed children in Mayapur fighting with stray dogs for scraps of food. Deeply moved, he declared that no one within a 10-mile radius of the temple should go hungry. This vision of compassion laid the foundation for what would later become The Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF).
Fast forward to June 2000: a humble yet thoughtful initiative began in Bengaluru, serving hot mid-day meals to 1,500 children across five government schools. Over 25 years, that small step has grown into one of the world's largest NGO-run school feeding programmes, serving 2.35 million children every day across India.
Every morning, as the sun rises over classrooms across India, a school meal programme gently comes to life as an initiative under the Government of India's PM POSHAN scheme. What began as a vision has grown into a nationwide movement, nourishing 2.35 million children every single day. Behind each meal is the promise of better concentration, improved attendance and the simple joy of a nourishing and nurturing warm plate of food.
Across 16 states and three Union Territories, the organisation's network of kitchens forms the backbone of this massive effort. In bustling cities, 76 centralised kitchens work with precision and scale, while in remote areas, two decentralised models help serve children. Together, Akshaya Patra serves more than 25,000 schools, weaving a vast and reliable safety net for young learners.
Yet, what makes this programme truly special is that every meal is prepared to suit the local palate of the regions it serves. The menus are crafted to feel familiar and comforting: khichdi in Uttar Pradesh, dalma in Odisha, bisi bele bath in Karnataka and laapsi in Rajasthan - all prepared while strictly following PM POSHAN nutrition guidelines. In every region, each meal carries the warmth of home, the richness of local cuisine and the nourishment every child deserves to thrive.
Impact studies have shown improved attendance, reduced dropout rates, better classroom concentration and enhanced learning outcomes. For millions of children, this is their only assured meal of the day.
This is more than the story of an organisation. It is the story of millions of lives touched, millions of dreams strengthened and millions of futures reshaped. It is a story written by the government, volunteers, partners, educators, donors, cooks and communities - each one a thread in a tapestry of hope. Above all, it is the story of the children who turned every meal into a step towards their dreams.
For 25 years, this mission has nourished not just bodies, but aspirations. When a child is fed, a future is strengthened. When a dream is supported, a nation is uplifted. When people unite with purpose, extraordinary change becomes possible. The journey is far from over: when we feed a child, we don't just fill a plate. We fill a life with possibility.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation extends its impact beyond the PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) programme through a range of secondary feeding initiatives aimed at strengthening child nutrition. These include the Morning Nutrition Programme, which provides breakfast to schoolchildren, and Anganwadi feeding initiatives that support toddlers as well as pregnant and lactating mothers.
Beyond Meals - Supporting Futures
The Akshaya Patra Foundation has expanded its 'Circle of Care' to support the holistic development of children through its Beyond Meals initiative. While the mid-day meal programme continues to address children's nutritional needs, the Foundation recognises that true growth goes beyond nutrition alone. This happens through the Akshaya Patra Alumni Network (AAN), which serves as a platform to support alumni through upskilling, career guidance and networking. The Avsar Scholarship Programme enables excellence in education by providing financial support to meritorious students from government schools. Giving Every Dream A Chance works to uncover hidden talent, nurture young potential and provide meaningful opportunities for underserved children. Apart from these, under the School Rejuvenation Programme, an attempt is being made to strengthen educational impact by improving school infrastructure and learning quality.
Akshaya Patra has consistently demonstrated its commitment to humanity by responding to crises immediately and with compassion. Through initiatives such as the Homeless Mothers Feeding programme, the organisation provides nourishing meals every day to mothers residing in ashrams in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.
Over the years, Akshaya Patra has been at the forefront of disaster relief, delivering meals during the Kerala and Assam floods and the Wayanad landslides, and offering large-scale food assistance during the Nepal earthquake in 2015 and the earthquakes in Turkey in 2023, as well as providing assistance in Ukraine in 2023. During COVID-19, the organisation distributed 244 million meals and ration kits across India.
Beyond emergencies, Akshaya Patra supports long-term needs through shelter feeding at old-age homes and manages large-scale meal services for massive gatherings, including providing hygienic food to lakhs of devotees at the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Views expressed are personal. The writer is an author and a former civil servant
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.