Akshaya Patra Foundation is likely to offer Midday meals to 35,000 school children in Telangana

• With the MoU in place, the NGO has come to a step closer to achieve its 2020 mission of feeding five million children
• The kitchen is expected to be completed by the next academic year i.e. from 2017-18 session
• Akshaya Patra foundation had recently been awarded the prestigious Nikkei Asia Prize by Japan

Bengaluru-based Akshaya Patra foundation would soon be serving midday meals to around 35,000 children of Ranga Reddy district of Hyderabad, Telangana.

The move came after the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (BTMU), an entity of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) agreed to pledge Rs 105.1 million to fund the construction of a new kitchen.

BTMU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the foundation to fund the construction of full-fledged kitchen to help cook the midday meals.

The kitchen is expected to be completed by the next academic year (2017-18), and will be able to feed 35,000 children in government-aided schools and Anganwadis (courtyard shelters.

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Apart from funding, BTMU will also help to deliver and distribute the meals to the schools.

Ryoichi Shinke, Regional Executive of BTMU India said, "It is our privilege to partner with the Akshaya Patra Foundation to work towards eradicating hunger among school children, many of whom rely on these midday meals to sustain them for the whole day. This is part of our commitment to the community to nurture the next generation. With proper nutrition, we hope the children will be able to enjoy a more conducive learning environment and not having to cope with hunger during school time," quoted Times of India.

The foundation, which works to ensure that hot steaming food is served to over 1.5 million schoolchildren across the country, aims to offer midday meals to five million children by 2020.

With the MoU in place, the NGO has come to a step closer to achieve its 2020 mission.

Speaking to TOI, Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa, President, Akshaya Patra, Telangana, said, "We are pleased to partner with MUFG in constructing this kitchen in Telangana. Such partnerships enable us to continue our work through our initiative to end classroom hunger."

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Akshaya Patra foundation had recently been awarded the prestigious Nikkei Asia Prize by Japan, for outstanding achievements that contribute to the region's sustainable development and the creation of a better future for Asia, said a TOI report.

Notably, Akshaya Patra is serving its second billionth meal this year. It reaches out to 1,436,596 children based in 24 locations across 10 states.

Helmed by former IITian Madhu Pandit Dasa, its state-of-art kitchens are also a subject of study and have continuously attracted tourists and visitors from around the world.

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