Our Initiatives in India
The Akshaya Patra Program
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an independent charitable trust registered under the Indian Trusts Act 1882 (Reg. No. 154). We endeavor to implement the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Initiative (formerly the Mid-Day Meal Scheme) to solve at scale the overarching societal issues of classroom hunger and malnutrition in the country.
It is our firm belief that investing in child nutrition and education is one of the most effective entry points for human development. Driven by this belief, we strive to provide children with a hot, nutritious and tasty mid-day meal every school day as an incentive to come to school. Thus, the vision – ‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.’
Since the year 2000, we have endeavored to reach out to children with wholesome mid-day meals every school day by leveraging technology and effectively harnessing the potential of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. By establishing an extensive network of kitchens and partnering with the Government of India, state governments, UT administrations, corporate houses and philanthropists, we have created a system to address a social cause on a massive scale. Our efforts are in direct alignment with two critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and SDG 4 – Quality Education.
Currently, we serve over 2.2 million children studying in 23,110 government schools and Anganwadi centers across 72 locations in 16 states and 2 union territories of India.
The Foundation has also undertaken various relief measures across the world in places of war conflicts and natural disasters.
Anna Sri
Through the AnnaSri initiative we have extended our services to patients and their attendants in government hospitals. These distressed people from economically disadvantaged households struggle to make ends meet, particularly during the pandemic. Most of them are deprived of healthy and hygienic meals due to unaffordable prices and limited accessibility. To address this crucial situation, we provide free, wholesome meals to patients and their attendants through AnnaSri. This intervention helps them to stay healthy and also save their money for much-needed medicines and treatment.
We have also extended our services to patients and their attendants in government hospitals. These distressed people from economically disadvantaged households struggle to make ends meet, particularly during the pandemic. Most of them are deprived of healthy and hygienic meals due to unaffordable prices and limited accessibility. To address this crucial situation, we provide free, wholesome meals to patients and their attendants through AnnaSri. This intervention helps them to stay healthy and also save their money for much-needed medicines and treatment.
Annapurna
Annapurna is an initiative to help the underprivileged and needy beneficiaries. The subsidised meal programme was launched in 2014 together with the GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) offering Rs.5/- meal to various underprivileged sections of the society such as commercial drivers, industrial labourers, students and many more. Popularly known as the Rs.5/- meal programme, Annapurna was conceptualised by the Hare Krishna Charities and the former GHMC Commissioner Sri. Somesh Kumar (Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana).
The Annapurna Programme made a grand launch with 8 centres serving about 2400 meals a day. Each day the food centres serve different menus to maintain the nutritional balance and the integrity of the consumption. Annapurna Canteens made a huge impact in the everyday lives of the underprivileged who barely made it through the day with a standard meal. With continuous expansion of the food centres and extensions to various other municipalities, the programme serves more than 40,000 meals a day with more than 150 centres alone in Hyderabad.
Saddimoota
Saddimoota is a programme that appreciates hard work and stands as an expression of gratitude towards the Annadatas (Food givers). The subsidised meal programme offers Rs.10/- meal benefiting farmers and hamalis at different market yards. The programme was first launched in 2014 at Bowenpally Market Yard serving more than 150 meals a day. Saddimoota serves hot and hygienic meals each day to the farmers and hamalis who visit the market yards.
The expansion of the programme to more than 4 market yards such as Siddipet, Bowenpally, Gajwel, Vantimamidi Yards have benefited thousands of farmers and hamalis who visit from far and long places to sell their produce for a living. Hare Krishna Charities serves more than 1000 meals a day through the Saddimoota programme offering different menus each day supporting a balanced diet at a subsidized price to the beneficiaries.
Swasthyahara Program
Swasthya Ahara is a free breakfast program primarily concentrated in providing hot and nutritious breakfast to the underprivileged children of Government Schools. Providing access to nutritious food which will go beyond nutrition, Swasthya Ahara will aid in enrichment of the underprivileged children fostering optimal growth and development.
The program witnessed the conception when Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Swamiji visited a government school during the implementation of mid-day meal program. A casual conversation with children altered the entire concept of nutritional necessity. 70% of the underprivileged children studying in the school were found to consume only Tea and Biscuits as their breakfast. This disheartening situation of the underprivileged children who were unable to access even a basic nutritious breakfast led the Hare Krishna Charities to develop and implement a free nutritious breakfast meal program, Swasthya Ahara.
The activities under Swasthya Ahara program commenced on 1st September 2017 benefitting more than 400 school children at Nehru Memorial School at Malakpet, Hyderabad. The enhanced nutritional value among the children is the prominent vision of Swasthya Ahara and to uphold the vision, Hare Krishna Charities fostered MILLET BASED BREAKFAST PROGRAM through Swasthya Ahara.
The Millet based breakfast fortifies the nutritional value of the underprivileged children. Enriched with multivitamins, fibres, calcium, and other vital nutrients. The breakfast meal ensures to strengthen and nurture ideal growth and development of the mind and body.
Sadhu Feeding
Sadhus are highly revered in our Indian culture and tradition. Vrindavan is a holy land where many sadhus reside, desiring to spend the rest of their lives in the service of the Lord. They lead a simple and austere life engaging themselves in devotional activities. The sadhus of Vrindavan have surrendered to Lord Krishna, they perform bhajans and kirtans in temples. We can also find them circumambulating the entire Vrindavan Dham. They generally do not have a fixed accommodation and are dependent on the kindness of devotees for their sustenance. As these sadhus are very dear to the Lord, we consider it our duty to serve them.
Srila Prabhupada desired that no one within a ten-mile radius of a Hare Krishna centre should go hungry. Inspired by this great vision, we are providing fresh, hot and nutritious meals everyday to the sadhus in Vrindavan through our AnnaSri program. More than 500 sadhus are currently receiving prasadam in Kesi Ghat, Gyan Gudri, and other areas in Vrindavan. Our feeding initiative is helping them continue their spiritual pursuits without having to worry about their next meal.
