The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a NGO that was started in Bangalore in June 2000. It implements the mid-day meal programme in Government schools under the aegis of Central Government and various State Governments. Akshaya Patra serves mid-day meal to 1.3million school children every day.
Though the primary role of Akshaya Patra as an NGO is to provide mid-day meal to school children, yet it greatly emphasizes on education too. “No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger”- the vision statement of the Foundation further makes it evident too. The first step to this initiative was taken in Akshaya Patra Bangalore by feeding 1500 children in 5 Government schools of Bangalore. This humble beginning gradually led Akshaya Patra to spread its reach in other parts of Karnataka and eventually India too.