NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said ensuring proper nutrition for children is a vital investment in human capital, stressing that they are not just beneficiaries of school meal programmes but the architects of the nation’s future.
She was speaking at an event at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre marking the milestone of five billion meals served and 25 years of service by the Akshaya Patra Foundation. Calling the achievement remarkable, the President highlighted the organisation’s contribution to advancing education through nutrition.
As an implementing partner of the government’s flagship PM POSHAN initiative, Akshaya Patra provides fresh and nutritious meals to millions of children in government schools across the country.
Murmu said the event’s theme—“From a Well-Nourished and Well-Educated India to a Developed India”—reflects the importance of building a nourished and educated society to achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047. In a symbolic gesture, she also served food to a group of children at the event.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Akshaya Patra founder Madhu Pandit Dasa and co-founder Chanchalapathi Dasa, was present on the occasion.
Emphasising the broader impact, Murmu said every meal contributes to building a healthy, educated, and productive workforce, essential for achieving the vision of a $30 trillion economy by 2047. She praised the foundation’s sustained efforts over the past 25 years in tackling child malnutrition and encouraging school attendance.
Pradhan echoed the sentiment, stating that India cannot realise its full potential unless its children and youth are adequately nourished.
