Panjim, 17 March 2025: Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant inaugurated The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s new centralised kitchen in a ceremony held at the premises in Pilerne Industrial Estate in North Goa today. In addition to the necessary permissions, the Government of Goa has generously provided the building space for this 15,000 sq. ft. facility, which can prepare and distribute 5,000 meals. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has supported with essential kitchen infrastructure. Initially, Akshaya Patra will serve 2,500 beneficiary children in the state as a part of the Government of India’s flagship school feeding programme, the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan.

With the launch of its first kitchen in Goa, Akshaya Patra marks a new chapter in its journey – a step closer to realising its vision that ‘No child in India is deprived of education because of hunger’. This is in pursuance of the Foundation’s efforts in alignment with a larger national vision—ensuring the development of the nation’s future generations by securing their access to quality nutrition and education. Through this custom-built kitchen, Akshaya Patra seeks to contribute to the Government of Goa’s vision of a healthier, well-nourished and empowered generation - one nutritious meal at a time.

The Chief Guest for event was the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, who inaugurated the new kitchen. Shri Kedar Naik, MLA - Saligao Assembly Constituency, Shri Prasad Lolayekar, IAS - Secretary (Education) and Dr. Sneha Gitte, IAS - Collector & District Magistrate North Goa, were the special guests. Shri Chanchalapathi Dasa, the Co-founder and Vice-chairman of Akshaya Patra, participated in the event. On behalf of NCPI, the anchor patron, Mr. Subhash Chandra Rai, Senior Lead CSR at National Payments Corporation Of India (NPCI), graced the event. Shri Bharatarshabha Dasa, the National President and Trustee of Akshaya Patra, and Mr Shridhar Venkat, the CEO, were also present on the occasion.

The inauguration event was followed by a tour of the kitchen facility and serving of meals to the children. The dignitaries present commended Akshaya Patra’s efforts to address hunger and malnutrition through its kitchen network spread across the country and congratulated the Foundation for beginning its services in Goa.

Speaking at the inauguration of Akshaya Patra’s new kitchen in the state, Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant said, “On the punyatithi of Shri Manohar Parrikar, I am heartened to see his vision of providing nutritious mid-day meals to children becoming a reality. It was his initiative to invite Akshaya Patra to Goa nearly a decade ago, and today, the efforts that 

began in 2013-14 have borne fruit. I extend my gratitude to the Akshaya Patra kitchen and its dedicated staff for their unwavering commitment. From this year, we are extending mid-day meals to students of classes IX and X in the surrounding areas. The students of Saligao, Calangute and Siolim constituencies are fortunate to benefit from this initiative, and we anticipate even better academic outcomes as a result. We are implementing this programme under the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan.” He further added, “I once again congratulate Akshaya Patra on the inauguration of their 78th kitchen in Goa. I am confident that this marks the beginning of a strong, long-running partnership.”

NPCI Spokesperson said, “We are happy to support the establishment of the first Akshaya Patra Kitchen in Goa under our CSR initiative. This project will provide midday meals for 5,000 school children, contributing to their health and overall development. We deeply appreciate the dedicated efforts of the Government of Goa and the Akshaya Patra Foundation in driving this noble initiative.”

Expressed his delight over the launch of the new centralised kitchen, Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder and Chairman – The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said: “The launch of our first kitchen in Goa marks a significant milestone in Akshaya Patra’s journey, and we are deeply grateful to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant ji, and the Government of Goa for their steadfast support in making this a reality. Our partnership with the Government of Goa will enable us to serve nutritious mid-day meals to children in the state in line with our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of Poshit Bharat Shikshit Bharat. The impact of the PM POSHAN programme on increasing school enrolment and attendance, enhancing nutrition and boosting learning capacities is evident, and we are privileged to contribute to this vital mission. We look forward to serving the children of Goa with dedication and care.” He also thanked the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for their continued support to the Foundation’s efforts over the last 24 years.

Shri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Co-Founder & Vice-Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation said: “We are immensely grateful to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant ji, for inaugurating our first kitchen in Goa and providing us with the kitchen facility. The support of the Government of Goa under his leadership has been pivotal for the beginning of this project for Akshaya Patra. We will leverage all our capabilities to serve the children in this region and support their health and education.” He further added, “I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for their invaluable support in setting up this kitchen. Their generosity has played a vital role in helping us set up the kitchen to serve nutritious and tasty meals to children in Goa.”

The new facility, which is Akshaya Patra’s 78th kitchen in the country, has been made possible through the generous support of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), whose contributions have played a crucial role in setting up this kitchen infrastructure. With a capacity to produce 5,000 meals daily, the facility is equipped with a 600-litre rice cauldron that prepares 1,250 meals in just 60 minutes and a 600-litre dal cauldron that ensures 2,000 meals in 90 minutes. The idli steamer, producing 2,000 idlis per hour, and the semi-automatic chapati machine, rolling out 2,000 chapatis per hour, ensure efficiency without compromising quality.

As a standard practice, Akshaya Patra serves food in accordance with the local palate across the country to improve consumption. In Goa, the Foundation’s menu will include items like chapatis, batata bhaji, vatana bhaji, vegetable korma, idli, sambar, soya chunks, mix-veg pulav, etc.

Akshaya Patra has come a long way since its inception in the year 2000. This year, the Foundation will complete 25 years in the service of children and communities. With the inauguration of this kitchen, Akshaya Patra’s network of centralised kitchens now spans 16 states and 3 Union Territories. The Foundation is committed to delivering wholesome and hygienic mid-day meals to children in Goa, with due adherence to local palate and food safety and quality benchmarks.

About The Akshaya Patra Foundation

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which strives to address classroom hunger and malnutrition in India. As the implementing partner of the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (Mid-Day Meal Scheme), the Foundation provides hot, nutritious and tasty mid-day meals to children in government and government-aided schools every day to support their nutrition and education.

In partnership with the Government of India, various state governments and UT administrations, and the inestimable support of many philanthropic donors and well-wishers, the Foundation has grown from humble beginnings serving just 1,500 school children across five schools to becoming one of the largest (not-for-profit run) school feeding programme in the world, serving wholesome food to over 2.25 million children from 23,000+ schools across 16 States and 3 Union Territories in India.

Akshaya Patra continuously forges partnerships and leverages technology to cater to millions of children and has served over 4 billion meals since 2000. The momentous milestone was commemorated at a special event at the UN headquarters in New York on 2 April 2024.