As aspirations soar high and challenges run deep, the mid-day meal (MDM) plays a vital role in transforming young lives. At The Akshaya Patra Foundation—a social impact organisation committed to addressing classroom hunger and malnutrition—our kitchens are at the heart of this transformation. These state-of-the-art Akshaya Patra kitchens are more than just culinary spaces, they are centres of innovation, efficiency and compassion, working tirelessly to nourish the dreams of millions of schoolchildren every day.
Scaling Nutrition with Precision

Feeding over 2.25 million children across 16 states and 3 Union Territories every school day is a monumental responsibility. At the core of this mission lies an unshakable commitment to scale with precision. Every Akshaya Patra kitchen is meticulously designed to ensure consistency in quality, hygiene and nutrition.
Some of our centralised kitchens have the capacity to cook up to 1,00,000 meals in under four hours. These kitchens operate combining modern machinery with time-tested processes. From vegetable cutting to steam-cooking in stainless-steel cauldrons, every step is carefully calibrated to retain nutritional value and flavour. The meals are then packed in insulated containers and dispatched in custom-designed vehicles to reach schools in time for lunch.
Ensuring Hygiene and Safety at Every Step

Maintaining hygiene in large-scale food preparation is non-negotiable. We follow strict food safety protocols as per ISO 22000:2018 standards and FSSAI guidelines. Regular tests, pest control, utensil sanitisation and staff training are part of our routine.

In every Akshaya Patra kitchen, the workflow is thoughtfully structured to avoid cross-contamination, from the delivery of raw materials to the dispatch of cooked meals. RO water is used for cooking, while raw ingredients are sourced from FSSAI-certified suppliers. Our kitchen staff are equipped with safety gear, including gloves, headgear and aprons, ensuring both personal safety and food hygiene.

Innovation at the Heart of Every Kitchen

Innovation is not an afterthought; it is built into the core of every Akshaya Patra kitchen. Each facility is tailored to its geographic and logistical context. For instance, our kitchen in Jaipur features gravity-flow mechanisms that minimise human touch, while the Vasanthapura kitchen in Bengaluru integrates biomass briquette boilers to reduce carbon emissions.

We continually adapt and improve our systems, be it route optimisation using GPS-enabled vehicles, data-led inventory management or solar-powered facilities. Our kitchens are examples of how technology can amplify the impact of social good.

A hot, nutritious meal has the power to change the course of a child’s life. For many beneficiaries of the PM POSHAN Programme (MDM Scheme), the meal they receive from Akshaya Patra is often the first meal of their day and sometimes, the only one. It’s not just about feeding children; it’s about enabling children to learn, grow and pursue their dreams without the burden of hunger.

The typical Akshaya Patra menu is designed and varies across regions to reflect local tastes and dietary habits. From khichdi in Gujarat to sambar-rice in Tamil Nadu and roti-subji in Rajasthan, our meals are both culturally relevant and nutritionally balanced.

People Behind the Process
Behind the high-efficiency machinery and streamlined logistics are thousands of individuals, kitchen staff, drivers, nutritionists, quality officers and volunteers, who pour dedication into every meal served. Their commitment exemplifies our values of service, precision and empathy. Each one contributes to a chain of care that begins in the kitchen and ends in the smile of a well-fed child.

The success of our kitchen operations is made possible through robust public-private partnerships. We operate within the framework of the Government of India’s PM POSHAN initiative and supplement this support with contributions from individual donors, corporate CSR initiatives and philanthropic foundations.
These partnerships enable us to upgrade kitchens, pilot innovative technologies and enhance the reach and efficiency of our operations. As a trusted organisation, Akshaya Patra’s kitchen models are frequently showcased as a benchmark for large-scale, high-impact interventions in school nutrition.
Mission we Breathe

Each Akshaya Patra kitchen tells a story of hope, scale and impact. It is here that the invisible threads of planning, compassion and efficiency are woven into tangible acts of service. As we continue to grow and reach more children, we remain anchored in our mission: No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.
Through the heat of the cauldrons, the rhythm of logistics and the dedication of our teams, the heart of Akshaya Patra beats strong in every kitchen, every meal and every child we serve.
As we continue to nourish young minds through our kitchens, your support can help us reach even more children with the promise of a hot, nutritious meal.

Together, we can ensure that every child is brought back to school every day.

Akshaya Patra is an NGO in Telangana which serves as the implementing partner of the government’s ambitious nutrition welfare programme, the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, to support children’s nutrition and education.

AN OVERVIEW OF AKSHAYA PATRA

The Akshaya Patra Foundation began its journey in Bengaluru in the year 2000 by feeding school meals to 1,500 students. In implementing the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan or Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Programme, our main aim is to eliminate classroom hunger and enhance the nutritional status of children.

AKSHAYA PATRA – AN NGO IN TELANGANA

Akshaya Patra is striving to empower children in Telangana through its four state-of-the-art centralised kitchens.

Akshaya Patra opened its first kitchen in the state in Warangal in 2017. Currently, in the state of Telangana, the foundation feeds mid-day meal beneficiaries and Anganwadi beneficiaries (including nursing mothers, pregnant women and their children) as well.

As of today, we are operating four kitchens across the state: Warangal, Narsingi, Nawabpet and Kandi. Cumulatively, we are feeding 1,65,573 children in 2,503 schools in the state, serving them freshly cooked wholesome meals thereby maintaining their nutritional levels and supporting their education.

When children receive hot, tasty and nutritious meals in schools, it encourages them to come to school every day, thus improving attendance and retention rates. Proper nutrition gives them the ability to concentrate better in their classes and perform well in academics.

Regardless of the region, serving meals based on the local palate and cyclical menu has always been a priority for the NGO. In Telangana, we serve rice, tomato pappu, veg pulav, channa masala, leafy pappu, tomato rice, moong dal payasam, etc.

An overview of Akshaya Patra’s work in Telangana

Beneficiary Stories

While Akshaya Patra is a renowned name in the school feeding space, its credibility as one of the best NGOs in Telangana has been strengthened by its relief feeding efforts in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation served cooked meals and essential grocery kits to ensure people’s access to nutrition during the pandemic.

Support Us to Nurture Children!

With the support of the government, corporate and individual donors, philanthropists and well-wishers, we are nurturing the hopes of millions of children. No child shall be deprived of education because of hunger. Keeping this in mind, we are constantly trying to expand our reach. With your support to help us implement the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, we can ensure that children relish their meals and walk towards achieving their dreams.