Laying Foundation for Akshaya Patra Mega Kitchen in City on 22 Dec
The Akshaya Patra Foundation in association with GT Foundation and Diya Systems Pvt.Ltd will lay the foundation for its Mega Kitchen in Kodman village, Benjanapadavu (behind Canara Engineering College) in the outskirts of Mangaluru. The Vision of Akshaya Patra is “No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.”
Mangaluru: The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Bengaluru, India. The organisation strives to fight issues like hunger and malnutrition in India. By implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Government schools and Government aided schools, the Foundation aims not only to fight hunger but also to bring children to school. Since 2000, the organisation has worked towards reaching more children with wholesome food on every single school day. Its state-of-the-art kitchens have become a subject of study and they spark curiosity among many enthusiasts from around the world.
In partnership with the Government of India and its respective State Governments, and inestimable support from many businesses, philanthropic donors and well-wishers; they have grown from their humble beginnings since inception, serving wholesome food to over 1.66 million children from 13,839 schools across 12 states at 22 locations in India, and Mangaluru being one among them. Started in the year 2005, the Mangalore branch of ‘Akshaya Patra’ located near Urwa Market, serves mid-day meals from Monday through Saturday to over 150 Government Schools/ Govt aided Schools, including Mangalore South, Mangalore North, B C Road, and Puttur – presently nearly 25,000 students in these areas receive their mid-day meal free of cost. Today, Akshaya Patra Foundation is the world’s largest (not-for-profit run) Mid-Day Meal Programme
Addressing the media persons Sundeep Talwar – CMO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Bengaluru said, ” The Akshaya Patra Foundation in association with GT Foundation & Diya Systems Pvt.Ltd-Mangaluru will lay foundation stone to build a mega kitchen in Kodman village, Benjanapadavu (behind Canara Engineering College) in the outskirts of Mangaluru. in Mangaluru. This kitchen will serve mid-day meals to over 50,000 children from the year 2019. A ‘Bhoomi Puja’ is organized on 22nd December 2017 along with the lighting of the lamp ceremony to usher an auspicious start to the undertaking.”
“Among the eminent dignitaries present at the event shall be Shri Shri Vidyadheesha Threertha Swamiji – Srimad Jagadguru Madwacharya Mahasamsthanam; Sri Palimaru Matha Udupi, Shri Shri Ishapriya Theertha Swamiji – Junior Seer of Shri Adamaru Matha, Udupi, Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza – Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese; Shri Chanchalapathi Dasa – Vice-Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation. The event shall also be graced by prominent personalities namely Shri Ramanath Rai – Hon. Minister for Environment and Forests and Hon. District In-charge Minister, Government of Karnataka, Nalin Kumar Kateel – Hon. MP; U. T. Khader – Hon. Minister for Food and Public Distribution; H. Kumar – Managing Director, MRPL, Mangaluru;”
” Shri. M. S Mahabaleshwara Bhat- Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Karnataka Bank Ltd.; Dr N Vinaya Hegde – Chancellor of NITTE University; Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi – Hon. Chancellor, Yenepoya University; Smt Meenakshi Shantigodu – President, Zilla Panchayat; Capt. Ganesh Karnik- MLC; J. R. Lobo – MLA; B.A. Mohiuddin Bava – MLA; Vinay Kumar Sorake- Ex. Minister for Urban Development; K Chandrahasa Karkera – President, Taluk Panchayat, Bantawala Taluk; MCC Mayor Kavitha Sanil; Sasikanth Senthil S – IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Mangaluru; Ganesh Suvarna – Taluk Panchayat Member – Thumbe Grama; Ravindra Kambli – Zilla Panchayat Member – Pudu Kshetra, and Sathish Naiga Kodman Kodi – President – Mera Majalu Grama Panchayat” added Talwar.
Karunya Sagar Dasa – President, Mangaluru Akshaya Patra, Dr V Ravichandran – CEO Diya Systems, Mangalore; and Vandana Tilak- CEO of Akshaya Patra, USA were also present during the press meet. Speaking to Team Mangalorean Karunya Sagar Dasa said, ” The Founder Acharya of ISKCON Srila Prabhupada once said, “Our centers should be the via media for feeding the needy and poor with food and spiritual knowledge without any discrimination of caste and creed”. At Akshaya Patra, we invite anyone, “Come and take food.” for we don’t want to see that anyone is hungry especially children. So God consciousness means all the good ideas we are manufacturing, they will be manifested in God consciousness automatically. Therefore our duty should be, if we want to make all human being well-behaved, then we must try to make every one of them God conscious “.
He further said, ” Our process is that everyone who is hungry, come and take your food. We may not live a very luxurious life, but there should not be a scarcity of food, shelter or clothes. There should not be scarcity, we all need to live happily. Happiness is all that we need in life. Not that because we did not possess a motorcar, therefore we are unhappy. Anyone can live without a car. But without food grains, you cannot live and people cannot live. And without food, the children certainly cannot concentrate on studies and get shape their future, better prospects and better quality of life. Therefore this food distribution program is one of ISKCON’s most important activities. We are making a sincere attempt to fulfill this important need.”
If anyone wants to help out at the ‘Akshaya Patra’ you are most welcomed by the management. Every one of us, at some time in our life, feels like contributing towards the betterment of the society. But among the various obstacles faced by many of us in doing so, are limitations pertaining to time. In order to tackle these and give you the opportunity to support our cause of uplifting underprivileged school children in our area and beyond, The Akshaya Patra Foundation has made volunteering provisions that will give you the freedom to spread their message without disturbing your schedule. As per the management you are not obligated nor will be forced to join their organization, (joining their movement is your wish )- but your volunteerism is very much encouraged by them.
So if you feel like volunteering, fundraising and other activities, you can reach ‘ The Akshaya Patra Foundation’ at Arya Samaj Road, Balmatta, Mangalore-575003; Phone: 0824-2410722, 0824-2454498 Website: www.akshayapatra.org
“Akshaya Patra” is now becoming a world renowned Institution doing such a fine job with their mid-day meal for tens of thousands of students for thousands of schools. God will always remain watchful on this esteemed Organization for the magnanimous service they render by providing free lunch to children in order to enjoy a nutritious diet.
India is always proud of their Educational foundation, and millions of people abroad find it difficult to understand how “Akshaya Patra” is managing such a huge responsibility of feeding tens of thousands of children with their daily nutritious diet.
May God help Ashaya Parta and all those that are responsible for such a noteworthy Group such a noble job for the benefit of hungry children. On our next visit we shall certainly visit their new facilities and also render our hand of help