Akshaya Patra’s Hunger Warriors: The People Behind Every Meal

What does it take to put a hot, nutritious meal on a child’s plate every school day?

It takes a committed team united by purpose and guided by values.

For The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a renowned NGO in India that serves mid-day meals to schoolchildren, these individuals are known as hunger warriors, the backbone of the organisation.

Behind every meal lies the power of people,committed to bringing change

Long before school bells ring and classrooms fill with students, Akshaya Patra kitchens are already in motion. Vegetables are being washed and chopped, meals are being prepared and vehicles are being readied for dispatch. Thousands of hands are working together for one purpose – ensuring every child sits in class well-nourished.

Before dawn, Akshaya Patra kitchens light up

Precision and discipline defines the journey of every meal.

Before the first rays of the sun appear, the kitchen team arrives to inspect the ingredients, maintain hygiene standards and prepare for large-scale cooking under the Mid-Day Meal Programme.

Early morning, the rhythm of purpose

In the early morning, Akshaya Patra kitchens across 80 locations begin buzzing with activity. Wearing head caps, masks, gloves, shoes and uniforms, thousands of hunger warriors start their day preparing mid-day meals for children.

Among such dedicated kitchen hunger warriors is Puja from Uttar Pradesh, whose day starts at 3 AM. As a cook, she prepares dishes such as kheer, dal, subzi and kadhi for children.

For Designers – this story is from kitchen with heart brochure – Barsana, Uttar Pradesh)
Puja, Cook
Uttar Pradesh

 “I work as I do for my children at home. Many of their parents find it difficult to provide nutritious food for their children, as a result of which they lag in their studies. My niece studies in one of the government schools we serve and she likes the food we give. I also like working with other women here. We help each other during challenges; it makes the work environment extremely peaceful.”

Earlier, as a widow, she stayed at home all the time looking after the children. Her mother-in-law suggested her to apply for this job. Now, she feels good to be employed. She is glad as she is able to do more for her children. “I also share ideas with my supervisor to improve some of our kitchen processes and she takes action on them,” Puja says. 

Like Puja, each member of Akshaya Patra strives for innovation in their work, in whatever tiniest way possible, because they have a strong feeling for the organisation’s goal and commitment to ensure child nutrition.

After the meal preparation, the next process is packing and dispatching the cooked food safely. For this, drivers, logistic personnel and kitchen team work in sync to ensure seamless delivery.

On the road: Here is the story of Manilal Aalabhai Boricha (For Designers – this story is from kitchen with heart brochure – Bhuj, Gujarat)

Manilal, Driver
Gujarat

Manilal is the father of three children. He hears good comments about meals not just from school but also from home. His youngest child, Akshara, is a beneficiary of Akshaya Patra. “She always praises the food. She likes dal-bhat the most,” he says enthusiastically.

He joined Akshaya Patra as a driver in 2019. Before that, he used to drive heavy vehicles, often travelling to Ahmedabad and Surat. This work often kept him away from home. Now, he is at home by 6 PM, allowing him to have dinner with his family and sleep peacefully at home.

One incident that stands out in his memory is during the COVID-19 pandemic. They used to travel from village to village, providing cooked food and essential grocery kits to people. When school resumed, they started going to schools to deliver meals. When he reached the first school, he saw children and the headmaster waiting for him. They welcomed and felicitated him with flowers and tilak. “Children were clapping hands. They were so happy that Akshaya Patra has resumed delivering meals.”

 

This perseverance and team spirit of people like Manilal and Puja are key factors that have helped the organisation cruise through more than two decades in implementing the Mid-Day Meal Programme.

And the journey continues until the vision – ‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger’ becomes a reality.

When this vision was first articulated, the NGO was feeding 1,500 children in five schools in Karnataka. Today, with the support of central and various state governments, corporates and well-wishers, the organisation is feeding 2.35 million children across 16 states and 3 UTs.

With a mission to serve mid-day meals to 3 million children every day and achieve 3 million servings of morning nutrition, the organisation continues its work to nourish more children under the Mid-Day Meal Programme and thus build a brighter future for India.

If you believe in this mission, you can donate to NGO initiatives like this and support child nutrition.