United Nations celebrates 4 Billion milestone
Akshaya Patra has now served more than four billion meals since our work’s inception in 2000. This momentous milestone for our mission was celebrated on 2 April 2024 at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York.
At the special event honouring our efforts, India’s permanent mission to the UN also shared inspiring details of the country’s contribution towards realising the global aspiration of zero hunger, which is UN sustainable development goal (SDG) number 2.
In a message sent especially for the occasion, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “It is with immense pride and joy that I congratulate the entire team of The Akshaya Patra Foundation on the remarkable milestone of serving four billion meals. This achievement stands as a testament to an unwavering commitment to eradicate hunger and provide nourishment to humanity.”
Prime Minister Modi’s heartfelt words were conveyed by Ruchira Kamboj, the Permanent Representative of India to the UN, who was joined by esteemed guests including N R Narayana Murthy, chairman emeritus of Infosys, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi.
In his keynote address, Mr Satyarthi said: “I stand here not as a Nobel laureate but as an admirer of Akshaya Patra and its leadership. If we fail the SDGs, we fail the future. In this situation of sometimes despair, we always need success stories.
“Akshaya Patra has been successfully able to keep millions of children from dropping out of schools who would otherwise be pushed into labour due to their socio-economic status. Their noble work will take us many steps ahead by helping youth achieve their true potential.”
Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder-Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said: “Over the last 24 years, Akshaya Patra has demonstrated a model for large-scale feeding in partnership with the government to meet the UN sustainable development goal of zero hunger.
“On this occasion of commemorating Akshaya Patra’s milestone of having served 4 billion cumulative meals in India, in the Indian spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which translates to the world as ‘One Family’, we wish to take Akshaya Patra beyond India to countries that will welcome us and give an opportunity to work with their government to serve their children.”