President of India Serves Akshaya Patra’s 5 Billionth Meal
Srishti Jha
New Delhi : The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday participated in a special ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre to celebrate the serving of the 5 billionth meal by the Akshaya Patra Foundation. On the occasion, the President symbolically marked the milestone by serving meals to children.
The event commemorated 25 years of service by the foundation. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended the ceremony as the Guest of Honour. The programme was also attended by Akshaya Patra’s Founder-Chairman Madhu Pandit Das, who is also the President of ISKCON Bengaluru, and Vice Chairman Chanchalapathi Das, along with several distinguished guests.
Vision of a Nourished and Educated India
The theme of the event was “From a Nourished and Educated India to a Developed India,” highlighting the importance of collective efforts in improving child nutrition and education. Members of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, senior government officials, policy experts, social workers, philanthropists and other key stakeholders were present at the ceremony.
Former beneficiaries of Akshaya Patra, students, parents, teachers and staff from government schools also attended the celebration. The President interacted with the children and presented them with gifts.
President Droupadi Murmu graced an event to commemorate the five billion meals of Akshaya Patra Foundation at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. The President said that a safe and bright future for our children is not solely the government's responsibility, but a shared… pic.twitter.com/3SMLpR1rLM
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 17, 2026
Nutritious Meals Under PM POSHAN Scheme
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an implementing partner of the Government of India’s flagship PM POSHAN Scheme, providing fresh and nutritious meals to millions of children studying in government schools across the country.
Currently, the foundation serves meals to around 2.35 million children every day through 78 state-of-the-art kitchens across 16 states and three Union Territories. The organisation aims to expand its reach to 3 million children daily by 2030.
President Emphasises Importance of Nutrition and Education
Speaking on the occasion, President Droupadi Murmu said she was delighted to participate in the programme dedicated to children’s education and health. She described the achievement of serving 5 billion meals as a remarkable milestone in the fields of education and child nutrition.
The President said that the vision of “a nourished and educated India leading to a developed India” will play a crucial role in achieving the national goal of building a developed India by 2047. She also paid tribute to ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada, whose inspiration envisioned a society where no one goes hungry.
She noted that education opens doors to opportunities and empowers individuals, while schools provide children with essential skills and experiences that help them face life’s challenges and become responsible citizens.
Strong Link Between Nutrition and Education
The President highlighted that the school mid-day meal programme encourages children to attend school and has led to improvements in enrolment, attendance and learning outcomes. She emphasised that providing nutritious food to children is an investment in the nation’s human capital and will strengthen India’s social and economic progress in the future.
She also urged all stakeholders to ensure that every child receives quality education, nutritious food, good healthcare and a safe environment.
Education Minister Praises the Initiative
Addressing the gathering, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Akshaya Patra initiative has evolved into a people’s movement. He noted that providing nutritious meals to 2.35 million children across more than 25,000 schools in 16 states is a significant achievement.
He said India cannot realise its full potential unless its children and youth are well nourished. Achieving the vision of a developed India requires that every child in the country remains healthy and continues their education.
25 Years of Service and 5 Billion Meals
Madhu Pandit Das, Founder-Chairman of Akshaya Patra, said the organisation’s 25-year journey and milestone of serving 5 billion meals reflect its commitment to serving humanity. He emphasised that the foundation’s mission is to ensure that no child goes hungry and that every child receives an opportunity for education.
Vice Chairman Chanchalapathi Das expressed gratitude to the central and state governments, donors, partners and volunteers for their support in making this mission possible. He said the organisation remains committed to expanding its efforts and reaching more children with nutritious meals in the coming years.