Akshay Patra Foundation and Thakkar Family Foundation join hands to open New Chikkajala Kitchen

In an interview for Hindustan Times, Mr. Gunakara Ram Das, Regional President- ISKCON, Mangalore and Mr. Janardhan Thakkar, President- Thakkar Family Foundation elaborated on the vision behind the launch of the newly inaugurated kitchen at Chikkajala and the monumental impact of the kitchen. Told from. On the educational landscape of Karnataka, there is a capacity to provide nutritious food to more than 35,000 children in more than 200 government schools every day.

Question 1:
With 35,000 children benefiting from this kitchen, what concrete changes do you hope to see in these communities, especially in terms of school attendance, retention and overall child development?

Answer: The state-of-the-art centralized kitchen at Chikkajala will benefit 35,000 children from over 200 government and government-aided schools every day, marking an important step towards enhancing the educational landscape of Karnataka. With the continued provision of nutritious food, we anticipate significant improvements in school attendance and retention rates. Nutritional support helps reduce classroom hunger, which in turn increases students’ concentration and participation. The broader impact on child development is profound, as a balanced diet is important for physical and cognitive development. This initiative has been made possible due to the generous contributions of our corporate and individual donors as well as the steadfast support of the state and central governments.

Question 2:
You have mentioned that the food will reach the children within 4 hours from cooking to consumption. How important are deadlines to ensure that food remains nutritious and safe, and what technologies are you leveraging to make this possible?

Answer: The time of 4 hours from cooking to consumption is important to ensure that the food retains its nutritional value and is safe for consumption. This timeline helps in maintaining the freshness and taste of food. To achieve this, we use cutting-edge technologies such as high-efficiency food production systems and advanced thermal management systems with specially designed insulated containers. These innovations are critical in maintaining optimal temperature and hygiene during the delivery process, ensuring that every baby receives safe, nutritious and delicious food.

Question 3:
Can you tell us more about how the partnership with the Thakkar Family Foundation came about and how such collaborations shape the future of Akshay Patra’s work?

Answer: Our partnership with the Thakkar Family Foundation, which generously contributed Rs 20 crore, exemplifies the collaborative spirit that drives our mission. This collaboration began through a shared vision of eradicating classroom hunger and promoting education. Such partnerships are invaluable, as they not only provide financial support but also bring innovation and visibility to our efforts. They help us scale our impact and reach more children, getting us closer to our goal of feeding 3 million children every day.

Question 4:
Can you elaborate on how green technologies like solar energy and clean cooking methods are being incorporated into Chikkajala kitchens, and how they might impact other kitchens in your network?

Answer: Chikkajala Kitchens is a leader in sustainable practices within our network, including solar-powered systems for the kitchen’s energy needs and clean cooking technologies such as indirect steam heating systems. The kitchen has a ‘zero’ chemical effluent treatment plant with imported technology, which can treat 80 KLD. Plentiful water per day. These green technologies significantly reduce our carbon footprint and operating costs, setting a standard for environmental responsibility in our other kitchens. By demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of these technologies, we aim to replicate these practices across our network, enhancing our commitment to sustainability.

Question 5:
Beyond just providing a meal, how do you measure the long-term educational impact on the children you serve? Have you noticed any notable differences in academic performance or attendance in the areas where your kitchen operates?

Answer: To assess long-term educational impact, we track multiple indicators such as enrollment, attendance, retention, and academic performance. Over the last few years, we have seen significant improvement in these areas in schools run by Akshaya Patra. For example, attendance rates have increased significantly because children are less likely to skip school when provided with a reliable source of nutritious food. Since 2014, Akshaya Patra has been the implementation partner of the vision of ‘Ksheer Bhagya Yojana’ of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of the Government of Karnataka. In this role, we manage the preparation and distribution of nutritious milk meals using milk powder and ragi provided by the government. We do. The schools in Bengaluru and Hubli further our mission of nurturing India’s future.

Question 6:
After Chikkajala, what’s next for Akshay Patra? Do you have plans to expand further in Karnataka or other areas of India where there is a serious need for mid-day meals?

Answer: After Chikkajala, we aim to expand further to areas identified as high need areas for midday meal assistance within Karnataka and in other regions of India. Our goal is to establish kitchens that can efficiently serve local communities while driving educational and nutritional outcomes. Each new kitchen helps us get closer to our goal of reaching 30 lakh children every day.

Question 7:
How many children have you served so far in Karnataka?

Answer: In Karnataka alone, Akshaya Patra Foundation has been instrumental in serving more than 1.19 billion meals per day across multiple districts, significantly increasing their access to education through nutritional support. This has been made possible by the collaborative efforts of government bodies, corporate entities and individual donors who have come together in the fight against child hunger.

Question 8:
The Thakkar Family Foundation has made significant contributions to Chikkajala Kitchen. Can you tell us what attracted you to this project with Akshaya Patra in particular, and what factors influence your foundation’s philanthropic decisions?

Answer: Thakkar Family Foundation’s significant contribution to Chikkajala Kitchen is driven by our deep commitment to educate children and help eliminate hunger and malnutrition among school children. Our decision to support this project with Akshaya Patra stems from several key factors. The first and foremost among them is the impact on the lives of children and their future. Chikkajala Kitchen, with its capacity to provide nutritious meals to thousands of children in government schools, aligns perfectly with our mission to “feed and educate school children for a better future”.

Secondly, the Akshaya Patra model is sustainable and scalable. Their efficient operations and ability to reach a large number of children make them an ideal partner for our Foundation. Additionally, Akshaya Patra’s commitment to transparency and accountability in its operations gives me full confidence that our contributions are being used effectively and responsibly.

In short, Akshaya Patra’s operations and model of high impact, sustainability, transparency and accountability align closely with our values ​​and it is an honor to partner with Akshaya Patra to ensure that every school-going child has access to He should get nutritious food and hence his future should be bright.

Question 9:
There is significant investment in Akshaya Patra’s mission. Do you see this as part of a long-term collaboration with them, or is your foundation exploring other areas of intervention or partnership to expand its impact?

Answer: Our 100% end-to-end cost contribution to Akshay Patra’s Chikkajala project is truly part of a long-term collaboration. We are committed to supporting their efforts to provide nutritious food to underprivileged children, as we believe this is an important step towards eradicating hunger and improving educational outcomes.

However, our Foundation is also investing in other areas of intervention to expand its impact. Some of these areas include supporting patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s conditions by personally connecting with religious institutions on a monthly basis and providing financial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association. We are also engaged in supporting the surviving families of the heroes police and fire department personnel martyred in the line of duty. This is accomplished by contributing directly to the 100 Club and also helps raise funds for this charity on an ongoing basis. We are also working with OSAAT organization in the reconstruction of KPS school in Malur taluk of Kolar district in Karnataka. This school will be a model school with a holistic approach in its infrastructure, multi-year commitments for maintenance, digital learning and teacher training for better educational outcomes as well as asset conservation.

Question 10:
With the massive donation you have made to Chikkajala Kitchen, how does Thakkar Family Foundation ensure accountability and track the real impact of its contributions on the ground? What kind of results are you hoping to see from this initiative?

Answer: Ensuring accountability and tracking the real impact of our contributions is a top priority for the Thakkar Family Foundation. This is achieved by establishing clear metrics and benchmarks at the beginning of the project and closely monitoring their progress. We receive regular reports detailing these metrics. We conduct periodic site visits via live on-site video conferencing as well as remotely through physical site visits. We maintain open lines of communication with the organizations we support, ensuring that any issues are resolved promptly and there is a mutual understanding of project progress and goals.

From the Chikkajala Kitchen Initiative, we hope to see increased nutritional intake, increased school enrollment and retention, and improved educational outcomes.

The partnership between Akshaya Patra Foundation and Thakkar Family Foundation marks a significant progress in the fight against child hunger and enhancing educational outcomes in Karnataka. The newly inaugurated Chikkajala Kitchen stands as a beacon of hope, representing a combined vision of empowerment, nourishment and opportunity for over 35,000 children to continue their education. With a commitment to innovation and expansion, both organizations are dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to nutritious food and the support they need to excel academically.

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