1st October 2024: The Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF) inaugurated its 5th kitchen in Chikkajala, Bengaluru, today. This marks the 75th centralised kitchen across PAN India. This marks a monumental milestone with the inauguration of the transformative kitchen facility with the support of the Thakkar Family Foundation. Strategically located, this kitchen will cater to schools in Yelahanka, Jakkur, Hebbal, and surrounding areas, providing over 35,000 wholesome hot, nutritious mid-day meals to over 200 government and government-aided schools with adherence to a 4-hour cook-to-consumption timeline. This initiative stands as a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to innovation, community involvement, and the greater good. The newly launched kitchen in Bengaluru marks its 5th location in the city, bolstering the company’s commitment to growth and expanded service capabilities.
Shri NR Narayana Murthy, Founder, Infosys Ltd., said, “I express immense gratitude to the Thakkar family and the Government of Karnataka for their significant support towards this cause. It is truly inspiring to be at an event dedicated to giving hope to India’s underprivileged children. The Thakkar family’s contribution to this kitchen is an embodiment of hope and faith. Education flourishes only when children have access to nutritious food, which is the core belief of the Akshaya Patra Foundation.”
Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder and Chairman, of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, “At the very outset, I want to thank the Government of Karnataka for the opportunity to serve the children of our state. Valuable support enables us to serve over 4.5 lakh children across 3,000+ government and government-aided schools in the state. Since its inception, Akshaya Patra has served nearly 1.2 billion mid-day meals in Karnataka.” He further said, “We are immensely grateful to our Hon’ble Minister of Revenue, Shri Krishna Byre Gowda, for taking time off from his busy schedule to be with us here today on this auspicious occasion. He has always been a strong pillar of support for our initiatives across the state. This partnership has played a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability that is integral to our efforts.”
Akshaya Patra’s newly inaugurated Chikkajala kitchen has a built-up area of 30,000 sq. ft. and is equipped with state-of-the-art gravity-flow infrastructure. It has an 80 KWp-capacity solar plant, contributing to increased energy efficiency and sustainability. Similarly, the facility features an effluent treatment plant. The 70KLD ETP uses advanced filtration and treatment processes and 2-ton briquette boilers to generate high-efficiency steam for cooking, thus reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions. The kitchen also includes a dedicated 2KLPH milk reconstitution plant under the ‘Ksheera Bhagya’ scheme, with automated batch controls for a production of 3,500 liters.
Shri Krishna Byre Gowda, Hon’ble Minister of Revenue, Government of Karnataka; Shri N R Narayana Murthy, Founder, Infosys Ltd; and Shri Jyotindra Thakkar, CIO, Reliance Ltd, graced this occasion. On behalf of Akshaya Patra, Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder-Chairman, Shri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Co-Founder & Vice-Chairman, and Shri Shridhar Venkat, CEO, were present. The event was presided over by patron donors Shri Janardan Thakkar, Chairman, and Ms. Linda Thakkar, Vice Chairman of the Thakkar Family Foundation.
“I am deeply grateful to Akshaya Patra for their remarkable work and want to congratulate them for setting up this new kitchen, which is going to serve 35,000 children every day. On behalf of the Government of Karnataka, I thank Akshaya Patra and the Thakkar Family from the bottom of my heart. I sincerely hope more materially wealthy individuals will follow their example and reinvest their wealth back into society so that our nation can grow and evolve into a better India. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Thakkars for supporting Akshaya Patra and its vital mission,” said Shri Krishna Byre Gowda, Hon’ble Minister of Revenue, Government of Karnataka.
Post the inauguration ceremony, the dignitaries were taken on a tour of the kitchen facility. All the dignitaries unequivocally commended Akshaya Patra’s efforts to address classroom hunger and malnutrition in India through its network of kitchens and assured their support and encouragement.
Shri Janardan Thakkar, Chairman, of Thakkar Ltd., said, “We believe that feeding and educating children is the foundation for a brighter future. Without proper nutrition, a child cannot focus on learning. It is our commitment to ensure that every child is healthy in both body and mind. We are deeply honored to associate with Akshaya Patra, a beacon of hope for the past 24 years, as it prepares to serve its 5th billion meal. A heartfelt thanks to all donors and supporters for contributing to Akshaya Patra’s mission.”
As is the practice, Akshaya Patra’s midday meals for Chikkajala, Bengaluru, are customized to suit the local palate so that they are not just nutritious but also delicious. The menu includes vegetable pulav, bisibele bath, masala vegetable upma, rice, green leafy sambar, mixed pulses, vegetable sambar, tomato rasam, fried poha + avalaki, and to the delightful sweetness, wheat kesari bath (or) vermicelli payasam (or) moong dal payasam.
This ambitious project is more than just a facility; it is a reflection of The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s enduring commitment to nurturing young minds. It symbolizes our collective effort in fostering community participation, promoting healthy eating habits, and advancing sustainable practices in our journey towards a brighter, more nourishing future.
