Organisation Plans to Feed a Million Children By 2010

Akshaya Patra Foundation ties up with retail majors to support expansion. A flurry of activities begin in the kitchens of Akshaya Patra around 3 am. The grain and pulses are washed and cleaned before being loaded into huge stainless steel containers. The quantities are huge. However, the process takes barely 15 minutes, thanks to the highly mechanised cauldrons, which have the capacity to cook 100 kg dal and 250 kg vegetables in minutes. Akshaya Patra, the school mid-day meal scheme of the Akshaya Patra Foundation of Iskcon, now covers nearly 800,000 children in about 3,000 government schools in 12 locations across India. "We are set to cross the one million mark by 2010," said Chanchalapathi Dasa, vice-chairman, Akshaya Patra Foundation. In order to support its expanded form, Akshaya Patra has already signed agreements with big retail stores to fulfil its vegetable and pulses needs.

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