NEW DELHI: In a landmark event at the United Nations Headquarters, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New York celebrated India’s strides towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).
The event highlighted The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s remarkable accomplishment of serving 4 billion meals under the auspices of PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, showcasing significant progress towards nourishing the future of India.
Prime Minister Modi commended The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s efforts, emphasising the intrinsic value of nutrition and community in Indian culture. He stated, “It is with immense pride and joy that I congratulate the entire team of The Akshaya Patra Foundation on achieving the remarkable milestone of serving 4 Billion Meals.”
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The ceremonial celebration underscored India’s enduring commitment to food security and educational empowerment. Distinguished personalities such as Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi and N R Narayana Murthy, Chairman Emeritus of Infosys, highlighted the significance of collaborative efforts in eradicating hunger and enhancing education through nutritional support.
Kailash Satyarthi, an advocate for children’s rights, praised Akshaya Patra’s role in keeping millions of children in school, stating, “Their Nobel work will take the country many steps ahead by helping the youth achieve their true potential.”
N R Narayana Murthy, Chairman of Emeritus, Infosys, emphasised the crucial role of nutrition in education, stating, “No country can build a sound and sustainable path to increasing prosperity for its citizens without a strong foundation of primary and secondary education.”
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Reflecting on the achievement, Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder-Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and reiterated the commitment to serving nutritious meals to children every school day. “Over the last 24 years, Akshaya Patra has demonstrated a model for large-scale feeding in partnership with the government to meet the UN sustainable development goal of zero hunger,” said Dasa.
The journey of The Akshaya Patra Foundation began in 2000, reaching its first billion meals in 2012. By 2016, it had served 2 billion meals, and in 2019, marked the milestone of serving 3 billion cumulative meals. The commemoration at the United Nations highlights the power of international solidarity in addressing world hunger. It embodies the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a not-for-profit implementing partner for the Government of India’s flagship PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, feeds over 2.1 million children in 24,082 schools across India, making it one of the largest NGO-run school feeding programs globally