Mumbai, January 05, 2024.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a pioneer in providing mid-day meals to school children, inaugurated its new centralised kitchen in Panvel, Maharashtra. The new unit is Akshaya Patra’s 68th kitchen in the country and 4th in Maharashtra. It will enable the organisation to implement the government’s flagship school feeding programme, PM POSHAN, and serve 10,000 children in 70 schools in an effort to address classroom hunger and promote education.The chief guest for the inauguration ceremony was Shri Deepak Vasant Kesarkar, Cabinet Minister for School Education and Marathi Language, Government of Maharashtra. The event was also graced by the presence of Shri. Ganesh Deshmukh – Commissioner, Panvel Municipal Corporation; Shri. Pankaj Dahane – DCP, Navi Mumbai Police; Shri. Bharat Rathod – Additional Commissioner Panvel Municipal Corporation; Smt. Suvarna Dakhane – Assistant Commissioner, Panvel Municipal Corporation; Shri. Paresh Thakur, Ex-Sabhapati at Panvel Municipal Corporation; Smt. Kirti Mahajan – Administrative Officer, Panvel Municipal Corporation and Shri. Sunil Bhople – Deputy Education Officer. On behalf of Akshaya Patra, Shri Amitasana Dasa, President – The Akshaya Patra Foundation Maharashtra and Mr. Shridhar Venkat, CEO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, were present at the event.The event marked a momentous occasion in the Foundation’s journey towards fighting classroom hunger and promoting education through nutritious meals. Akshaya Patra’s patrons, Ms. Vandana and Mr. Ravi Tilak, the Sarva Mangal Trust, and the Saxena Family Foundation have played a crucial role in turning this dream into reality
“It is a pleasure to inaugurate the 68th kitchen of the Akshaya Patra Foundation. The school mid-day meal is extremely important for students’ development. The Prime Minister’s PM Poshan scheme is truly a great initiative, and institutions such as The Akshaya Patra Foundation which are involved in this noble cause should be encouraged. It is the duty of the government to support such activities, and I assure you that the government of Maharashtra will always stand by you,” said Shri Deepak Vasant Kesarkar, Cabinet Minister for School Education and Marathi Language, Government of Maharashtra.