Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Akshaya Patra feted at UN for its four billionth meal

Founded in 2000, this Indian non-profit runs 72 kitchens across the country, and feeds 2.1 million children every day in 24,000 schools

Akshaya Patra feted at UN for its four billionth meal

The Akshaya Patra Foundation's historic milestone of serving four billion meals was celebrated at the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday (2).

Founded in 2000, this Indian non-profit runs 72 kitchens, and feeds 2.1 million children every day in 24,000 schools.


The Permanent Mission of India to the UN hosted a special event — 'Achievements in Food Security: India's Strides Towards Sustainable Development Goals' to commemorate the feat achieved by Akshaya Patra. Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, and The Akshaya Patra Foundation chairman Madhu Pandit Dasa were present.

In a message sent for the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the entire team of The Akshaya Patra Foundation.

“This achievement stands as a testament to an unwavering commitment to eradicate hunger and provide nourishment to humanity. The significance of this milestone is further highlighted by serving the meal at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, showcasing a passion for global wellbeing," Modi said in the message that was read out by India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj.

In his keynote address, Satyarthi told the gathering that commemorating the milestone of four billion meals at the UN headquarters is "very significant" and sends a "very strong message" since this is the "place that represents the hopes and inspirations of 8 billion people".

Murthy appealed to leaders of other countries to emulate the Akshaya Patra model and "bring joy, health, confidence, hope and success to poor children in their own countries".

He said Akshaya Patra raises “our confidence that good things can indeed happen in India".

Dasa said Akshaya Patra was willing to share its rich experience in using the best technology and logistics of large-scale cooking and distribution of food with any organisation in any part of the world.

He said the foundation had served over 250 million meals during the pandemic in India and a kitchen was set up in Nepal to provide hot meals to people affected by an earthquake. Recently, it provided food, grocery and hygiene kits in Turkiye, for the earthquake survivors.

"We are also serving the people of Ukraine" who are facing food security challenges due to war, Dasa said.

Kamboj said Akshaya Patra's efforts "shine as a model of hope and a template for impactful action".

"This goes beyond feeding the hungry. It's about educating the young and empowering women, driving both SDG 2 — zero hunger and SDG 4 — quality education by incentivising children to attend school," she said. (PTI)

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less