To ring out the old and ring in the new as time moves on, everyone is in high gear. In addition to looking forward to the new year with hope, it is vital to reflect on the previous year, which was full of paradigm-shifting events.
The resurgence of optimism in the realm of goodness and generosity was one of this year’s biggest news stories.
These were the stories from the fields of technology, science, natural disasters and relief that will not only have an effect locally but will also impact advancements in the near future.
Here is a recap of some of the most significant breakthroughs from 2022 in nourishing and educating children at The Akshaya Patra Foundation – an NGO that implements the Centre’s PM Poshan Abhiyaan (previously known as the Mid-Day Meal Programme or MDM Programme) in India.
JANUARY
Puducherry kitchen inauguration
Akshaya Patra inaugurated its 60th kitchen on January 5, 2022. Built in Lawspet, Puducherry, this MDM kitchen was made possible through the generosity of the General Insurance Corporation of India and The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. It has a 50,000 meal capacity.
The inauguration event was presided over by Thirumathi Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, and was graced by Thiru N. Rangaswamy, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of Puducherry; and Guest of Honour, Thiru R. Selvam, Hon’ble Speaker of Puducherry Legislative Assembly in the presence of Shri Madhupandit Dasa, Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation. The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. was represented by its General Manager Shri Ramakant Agrawal while the General Insurance Corporation of India was represented by its Senior Manager, Smt. Jayashri Prabhu.
FEBRUARY
Launch of Digital Education Programme
Akshaya Patra expanded its initiatives and included its Digital Education Programme to ensure access to digital education and support digital inclusion for underprivileged children. The NGO collaborated with an EdTech company in an effort to further The Foundation’s aim to provide quality education to all.
The Digital Education Programme is a component of Akshaya Patra’s flagship National Endeavour for Student Transformation (NEST) campaign. It works with the government education system to improve educational quality and create an environment that promotes outstanding learning results, while also making schooling fun.
APRIL & MAY
Won India Today Happiness Award
Akshaya Patra was honoured at the India Today – RPG Happiness Awards, the culmination of the year-long ‘The Happiness Quest’ campaign.
With the aim to identify individuals/institutions who have spread happiness through their work, shortlisted contestants were grouped under 12 categories and an independent research agency, MDRA, was engaged to determine the winners based on specifically laid-down criteria.
Akshaya Patrawas selected as the winner in the ‘NGO that brought the Most Happiness’ category.
The award was presented by Shri Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Delhi to Shri Bharatarshabha Dasa, National President, Projects and Operations, The Akshaya Patra Foundation on April 9, 2022, at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi.
Crowdfunded kitchen inaugurated in Anantapur
Inaugurated in April 2022, Akshaya Patra opened its 61st kitchen in Kalyandurg, a town in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. This kitchen was made possible through the generosity of Gayatri Thati and her husband, Vamsi Mohan Thati, President, Greater China, The Coca-Cola Company, to celebrate personal milestones.
Mr Vamsi and his wife generously built on their initial donation, by crowdfunding through family and friends, raising funds to build a community kitchen through the NGO in their hometown – Anantapur.
The kitchen was inaugurated by Smt. K.V. Usha Shricharan, Hon’ble Minister for Women, Children, Differently Abled and Senior Citizen Welfare, in the presence of Shri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa, Regional President and Trustee, The Akshaya Patra Foundation.
JUNE
Assam Flood Relief Efforts
The lives of numerous people were impacted by the floods in Assam. Many people lost their lives, loved ones, houses and means of support. The Akshaya Patra Foundation intervened to deliver food to the impacted people in Assam. Over thousands of people in various parts of the Kamrup district received over 2,00,000 meals from the Foundation as of July 2, 2022. For a few more days, flood relief efforts were made to assist the victims in rebuilding their lives.
JULY
Godavari Flood Relief Programme
Relief kits were distributed with the support of Infosys to over 350 families at Sundaraiah Colony (Sarapaka Village), Bhadrachalam District, which was affected by the Godavari floods in July.
AUGUST
MoU signed to serve millets
The Akshaya Patra Foundation signed an MoU with NutriHub, ICAR – Indian Institute of Millets Research, to further research and promote diversified, balanced and healthy diets through nutritious millets as part of its feeding programme.
Dr B Dayakar Rao, CEO, NutriHub & PS, ICAR and Mr Anant Arora, Chief Sustainability and Communication Officer, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, were a part of the signing which will help further the cause of eliminating classroom hunger.
SEPTEMBER
Bangalore feeding programme
Thousands of people were stranded due to rains in Bangalore in September. The Akshaya Patra Foundation stepped in to provide freshly cooked meals from Vasanthpura to the affected people in South and Southeast Bengaluru.
OCTOBER
Mahatma Gandhi Award for social good and impact “Zero hunger”
The Akshaya Patra Foundation was awarded the prestigious Mahatma Award for Social Good and Impact, for its work towards ‘Zero Hunger’ by Aditya Birla Group and the Award Selection Committee. In a ceremony held in Delhi on October 1, 2022, the award was received from Mr Sankar Sanyal, Professor and Activist, in the presence of Mr Amit Sachdeva, Social Entrepreneur, and Ms Radhika Bharat Ram, Jt. Vice Chairperson, The Shri Ram Schools, and Founder, KARM Fellowship Speech.
DECEMBER
CSR Times Award in the Gold category
The Akshaya Patra Foundation was conferred with the ‘CSR Times Award 2022’ – Gold Category in the area of ‘Eradication of Extreme Hunger & Malnutrition’ at the 9th National CSR Times Summit and Awards 2022, New Delhi.
The award was presented to the NGO by Mr Janardan Singh Sigriwal, Member of the Lok Sabha & Sinisa Pavic, Ambassador, Embassy of Serbia. It was received by Shri Bharatarshabha Dasa, National President & Trustee and Mr Rohit Choudhary, Director – Institutional Partnerships, The Akshaya Patra Foundation.
The efforts of Akshaya Patra make a huge difference in the lives of underprivileged children deprived of basic amenities.
As the NGO is registered under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act, you also qualify for a 50% tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, when you donate towards the cause of the organisation.
This year, take a vow to gift children the joy of nutrition and education. Donate now and save tax!
The Akshaya Patra Foundation 