Latest news with #TheAkshayaPatraFoundation
Fashion Value Chain
28-04-2025
- General
- Fashion Value Chain
A Sustainable Shift in Service: Akshaya Patra and BW LPG India Collaborate in Puri
At The Akshaya Patra Foundation, every wholesome meal served is a step toward enabling education and building a healthier, brighter future for children. Our journey in Puri, Odisha, has taken a meaningful leap towards sustainability through a valued partnership with BW LPG India, India's largest owner and operator of Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shipping. The company is committed to deliver cleaner energy for a sustainable future and proudly supports related community initiatives. BW LPG India fuels Akshaya Patra's Puri kitchen with clean LPG for a greener future Background Puri is not just a pilgrimage hub; it is a city that balances deep-rooted spiritual significance with modern environmental consciousness. Known for the revered Jagannath Temple, the city has also embraced eco-friendly initiatives-making it an ideal place for sustainable innovations in community service. Akshaya Patra in Puri In Puri, Akshaya Patra began its operations in 2006 driven by the vision No child shall be deprived of education because of hunger. Today, the Puri kitchen provides nutritious mid-day meals to nearly 40,000 children studying in 583 government and government-aided schools in the city and surrounding areas, by supporting the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, our meals play a pivotal role in improving children's health, school attendance, and learning outcomes. The centralised kitchen provides hygienic, nutritious and freshly prepared mid-day meals daily, playing a vital role in improving school enrolment, attendance and retention as well as children's health outcomes, and consequently, their academic performance. Akshaya Patra – BW LPG India Partnership Akshaya Patra has initiated a strategic shift towards becoming more environmentally sustainable, and in this, the Foundation has had the considerable support of donors like BW LPG India, who have supported its operations in Puri, Odisha. In line with Akshaya Patra's sustainability commitment, the Puri Centralised Kitchen, which prepares over 52,000 meals daily, transitioned from a briquette-fired boiler to a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fired boiler with the support of BW LPG India. This move not only optimised operations but also brought significant environmental, community and cost-related benefits. BW LPG India leadership team adds, 'We are committed to the communities in which we operate, and we are proud to continue our partnership with Akshaya Patra Foundation to sponsor the energy needs of school kitchens with clean-burning LPG-fuelled equipment, reinforcing our firm conviction in delivering energy for a better world'. Mr. Dhananjay Ganjoo, Chief Marketing Officer of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, shared, 'At Akshaya Patra, we believe that true service must go hand-in-hand with sustainability. Our collaboration with BW LPG India is a shining example of how thoughtful innovation can nourish both people and the planet. By reducing our environmental footprint while enhancing meal delivery for children, we are building a healthier future-one meal, one initiative at a time.' Impact – Energy Transition at Akshaya Patra Puri Kitchen: Briquettes to LPG-fired Boiler Before – Challenges with Briquette-fired Boiler 1. High Fuel Load, Lower Efficiency Daily Briquette Usage: 1,650 kg Calorific Value: ~3,800 kcal/kg → 6.27 million kcal/day Combustion Efficiency: ~65%, leading to thermal losses and higher input fuel needs 2. Particulate Matter & Pollution Briquettes emit high levels of PM2.5, soot and CO, leading to poor air quality inside the kitchen and surrounding area Persistent community complaints and pollution board concerns due to black smoke and ash 3. Manpower & Maintenance Overheads Manual fuel feeding, slag removal, and cleaning required extra labour and caused frequent boiler downtime Ash handling created hygiene issues near food processing zones 4. Operational Cost Cost/kg: Rs. 8.50 → Daily Cost: Rs. 14,025 Requires large dry storage and handling areas for 1.6 tonnes/day After – Benefits of LPG-fired Boiler Upgrade 1. Higher Thermal Efficiency LPG Calorific Value: ~11,500 kcal/kg To meet 6.27 million kcal/day, only 545 kg LPG/day is required Combustion Efficiency: ~95%, providing faster and cleaner steam generation 2. Clean combustion, Air Quality & Hygiene Improvement LPG combustion emits almost zero particulate matter, soot or ash. Drastically reduced kitchen emissions enhanced air quality for kitchen staff and the local community Compliance to the Government's regulations of lowering air pollution as Puri is a place of importance from the pilgrimage and tourism perspectives 3. Manpower Savings & Easy Operation Automated burners and no ash to handle = ~30-40% manpower reduction in Fuel handling Lower downtime and safer operations 4. Low Capex & Minimal Maintenance LPG systems are modular and skid-mounted, requiring lower upfront investment No moving grates, conveyors, or soot blowers-maintenance costs dropped significantly Carbon Footprint Reduction (235 Operational Days) Parameters Briquettes LPG COâ Emission Factor ~1.8 kg COâ per kg ~2.88 kg COâ per kg Daily Usage 1,650 kg/day 545 kg/day Daily COâ Emissions 2,970 kg COâ/day 1,569.6 kg COâ/day Annual COâ Emissions 699,950 kg 368,856 kg Approx. Annual Emissions ~700 tonnes/year ~369 tonnes/year Net Carbon Emissions Reduction Parameter Briquette Boiler LPG Boiler Fuel Used (per day) 1,650 kg 545 kg COâ Emissions/Day ~2.97 tonnes ~1.57 tonnes Annual COâ (235 days) ~700 tonnes ~369 tonnes Net COâ Reduction ~331 tonnes/year Comparison b/w Briquettes and LPG from an Operational Perspective Criteria Briquettes LPG Emissions High PM, CO, smoke and ash Clean burning; negligible PM Compliance Risk High (Visible emissions) Low (Meets CPCB standards) Community Impact Negative (Smoke, particles) Positive (No visible emissions) Capex Higher (Fuel handling + storage) Lower (Compact skid-based units) Maintenance Frequency High Low Operational Ease Manual, labour-intensive Automated, easy to manage Hygiene Compromised due to ash/smoke High standards, no residue This transition marks more than a technological advancement-it is a model for scalable, CSR-led environmental innovation that improves operations, empowers communities, and enhances the well-being of school children. Together with BW LPG India, Akshaya Patra reaffirms its mission to serve nutritious meals while championing sustainability, community health, and national development goals.
Hans India
26-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
HUDCO donates EVs, kitchen equipment worth Rs 88 lakh to Akshaya Patra
Hyderabad: Akshaya Patra Foundation partnered with two esteemed organisations—HUDCO and Franklin Templeton Services (India) Private Limited for enhancing child nutrition, education, and sustainability. According to officials, these collaborations mark significant milestones in the foundation's ongoing mission to combat classroom hunger and promote environmentally smooth operations. HUDCO extended its support to The Akshaya Patra Foundation by sponsoring state-of-the-art kitchen equipment and electric vehicles worth of Rs 88 lakh. These additions are set to bolster kitchen capacity and enable efficient last-mile delivery of nutritious meals from the foundation's facility in Kandi, Sangareddy, and Hyderabad. Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa, Trustee and President, The Akshaya Patra Foundation Telangana and Andhra Pradesh said, 'These new vehicles and kitchen equipment will significantly enhance our ability to deliver meals efficiently, supporting our goal of promoting well-being and education across communities.'
Fashion Value Chain
22-04-2025
- Health
- Fashion Value Chain
Millers for Nutrition, Fortify Health, and The Akshaya Patra Foundation Unite to Improve Nutrition in India
Millers for Nutrition, a coalition of key food fortification stakeholders dedicated to helping millers fortify staple foods, is proud to announce a partnership with Fortify Health and The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an implementing partner of the PM POSHAN program, to supply fortified wheat flour to 3416 schools in Gujarat. The flour will be used to make meals for over 400,000 children. Millers for Nutrition, Fortify Health, and The Akshaya Patra Foundation join hands together for nutritious meals As part of this initiative, millers including Century Industries (Ahmedabad), Shakti Food Industries (Bhuj), Achyut Cereals & Pulses (Jamnagar), Shreeji Food Products (Vadodara), Momai Traders (Bhavnagar), and Giriraj Food Product (Surat) will collectively supply about 350 metric tons of fortified wheat flour every month to Akshaya Patra's centralized kitchens in these cities, ensuring a steady and nutritious food supply for students. 'Millers for Nutrition is proud to partner with Fortify Health and The Akshaya Patra Foundation to enhance nutrition in India,' said Monojit Indra, Senior Practice Lead, TechnoServe. 'Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of millions of children across the country.' Over the past year, Millers for Nutrition, in collaboration with Fortify Health, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, and the Gujarat Roller Flour Millers Association, has conducted fortification trainings in Gujarat to help millers produce high-quality fortified wheat flour. Demonstrating a win-win-win, the initiative has successfully scaled up wheat flour fortification, enhanced childrens nutrition, and supported miller businesses. Sri Bharatarshabha Dasa, Trustee and National President at The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said,'We at The Akshaya Patra Foundation are honored to collaborate with Millers for Nutrition and Fortify Health in this transformative initiative. By integrating fortified wheat flour into the meals of over 400,000 children in Gujarat, we are not just addressing nutritional needs but are actively contributing to a brighter, healthier future for the next generation. This partnership stands as a testament to the power of collaborative effort in making substantial health improvements across communities. Together, we are setting a remarkable precedent for nutritional welfare in India.' Tony Senanayake, CEO at Fortify Health,said, 'Fortify Health is proud to collaborate with The Akshay Patra Foundation leading the way in institutional nutrition across Gujarat. They are delivering high-quality, iron-fortified chakki atta through six central kitchens, reaching over 4 lakh vulnerable individuals, including school children under PM-Poshan. This partnership demonstrates how simple, scalable interventions can effectively improve public health and nutrition outcomes in a state with a high anaemia burden.' About The Akshaya Patra Foundation The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which strives to address classroom hunger and malnutrition in India. As the implementing partner of the Government of India's PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (Mid-Day Meal Scheme), the Foundation provides hot, nutritious and tasty mid-day meals to children in government and government-aided schools every day to support their nutrition and education. In partnership with the Government of India, various state governments and UT administrations, and the inestimable support of many philanthropic donors and well-wishers, the Foundation has grown from humble beginnings serving just 1,500 school children across five schools to becoming one of the largest (not-for-profit run) school feeding programme in the world, serving wholesome food to over 2.25 million children from 23,000+ schools across 17 States and 3 Union Territories in India. Akshaya Patra continuously forges partnerships and leverages technology to cater to millions of children and has served over 4 billion meals since 2000. The momentous milestone was commemorated at a special event at the UN headquarters in New York on 2 April 2024. For more details, please log on About Fortify Health Fortify Health has a vision for a healthier world where everyone has the micronutrients they need to survive and thrive. We work toward this by enabling access to micronutrient-rich wheat flour to reduce and prevent iron deficiency anaemia. We are now active in 14 states/UTs across India, working with 150 mills across India to reach more than 7 million beneficiaries. Fortify Health provides technical support to governments and NGOs to integrate wheat flour fortification into various programs such as the Andhra Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited, Punjab Development Corporation, The Akshaya Patra Foundation and Touchstone Foundation. Fortify Health operates through three work streams. Open Market Support: We support millers to cost-neutrally fortify chakki atta in the open market. Partnership Support: We work with governments, quasi-government and non-government organisations in India to mainstream wheat flour fortification through social safety net programs. Evidence Generation: We conduct monitoring and evaluation of activities to inform the public about the value of food fortification. For more details, please log on About Millers for Nutrition Millers for Nutrition is supported by Strategic Fortification Partners: BASF, BioAnalyt, Bhler, dsm-firmenich, Mhlenchemie, SternVitamin; Regional Strategic Fortification Partners: Hexagon Nutrition, Piramal, Sanku; and a growing group of local technical partners that share a common vision of improving food processing practices and fortification excellence to benefit society and enhance business sustainability. Millers for Nutrition is powered by TechnoServe with funding support from the Gates Foundation. Millers, food fortification stakeholders, and others interested in joining the coalition can learn more at
