Akhshaya Patra Earns PM Modi's Praise At UN For Completing '4 Billion Meals' Under Centre's Scheme

The Akshaya Patra Foundation has achieved the remarkable feat of providing 4 billion meals under the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan initiative.

Akshaya Patra Foundation meeting panel at the UN headquarters.

In a key meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters — 'Achievements in Food Security: India's Strides Towards Sustainable Development Goals' — the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New York celebrated India's advancements towards achieving Zero Hunger (Sustainable Development Goals - SDG 2) globally. The event highlighted The Akshaya Patra Foundation's landmark accomplishment of providing '4 Billion Meals' as part of the PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) Abhiyaan initiative.

Praising The Akshaya Patra Foundation's efforts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to The Akshaya Patra Foundation team on their extraordinary feat of serving 4 Billion Meals. As we celebrate this achievement, it's crucial to acknowledge the intrinsic importance of food in our diverse culture. From the ceremonial Annaprashan marking a child’s first 'rice meal' to the concept of a 'Thali' symbolizing a balanced diet, our societal fabric underscores the interplay of nutrition, diet, and diversity. This milestone gains further significance by serving meals at the United Nations Headquarters, underscoring our commitment to global welfare.” The PM's message was read out by India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj.

PM Modi also praised The Akshaya Patra Foundation's efforts during Covid.

The ceremonial event also underscored India's dedication to food security and educational empowerment globally. Distinguished personalities like Nobel Laureate and UN SDG advocate Kailash Satyarthi, Chairman Emeritus of Infosys N R Narayana Murthy, and Founder-Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation Madhu Pandit Dasa shared their insights, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts in removing hunger and promoting education through nutritional support.

Kailash Satyarthi, who is known for fighting for children's rights and supporting SDGs, said, “Akshaya Patra has effectively prevented millions of children from dropping out of school due to socio-economic reasons, thereby preventing their exploitation in manual labour. Their noble efforts will propel the nation forward by enabling youth to reach their full potential.”

N R Narayana Murthy, Chairman Emeritus, Infosys, said, "A nation cannot achieve sustainable prosperity for its citizens without ensuring primary and secondary education, which necessitates providing nutritious food to children. Akshaya Patra’s commendable effort to ensure no child is deprived of education due to hunger is a crucial element in this direction."

Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder-Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, stated, “Over the past 24 years, Akshaya Patra has demonstrated a scalable model in collaboration with the government to achieve the UN sustainable development goal of zero hunger. On this occasion, we aspire to extend Akshaya Patra's reach beyond India, adhering to the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, and collaborating with other nations to serve their children.”