Page 35 - NIS English 16-30 April, 2026

Akshaya Patra | NATION

Multiple Initiatives Aimed
at Providing Nutrition and generation. The president stated that we must
Healthcare Services ensure that every child receives quality education,
nutritious food, good health, and a clean and safe

The Government of India has launched numerous environment. These fundamentals enable holistic
significant initiatives aimed at providing adequate development of children.
nutrition and improved healthcare services to
pregnant mothers and children. The school lunch CHILDREN: THE ARCHITECTS OF THE
programme, implemented under PM POSHAN, NATION’S BRIGHT FUTURE
has proven to be a significant incentive for parents Children are not merely beneficiaries of free meal
to send their children to school. Numerous studies
substantiate that, as a result of this programme, programmes; they are the architects of the nation’s
there has been an increase in children’s enrolment, bright future. The President remarked that the
attendance, and retention in schools. Also, there has nutritious food they receive today constitutes an
been a remarkable improvement in their learning investment in our nation’s human capital. Healthy,
capabilities and academic performance. The educated, and energetic children will form India’s
Akshaya Patra Foundation is playing an important workforce and play a pivotal role in achieving the
role in furthering the objectives of ‘Samagra Shiksha
Abhiyan’, which aims to ensure quality and inclusive goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by the year 2047.
education for all children by the year 2030.
PRESIDENT REMEMBERS ACHARYA

Akshaya Patra Foun- SRILA PRABHUPADA
dation: Nourishing PM On the occasion of an event organised by the
the Nation’s Youth POSHAN Akshaya Patra Foundation, the President paid
tribute to ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabh-
Over
2.4 million children receive Scheme upada. She stated, “I offer my humble homage to
fresh and nutritious
ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada, who
meals every day
19 territories are connected 120 envisioned a society where no individual would ever
states and union
go hungry.” He took the Indian cultural tradition of
million ‘Annadan’ (the donation of food) to the global stage
and championed the distribution of free meals
n 23,000 schools and children
Anganwadis are partnered receive meals without any discrimination. The sweet fruits of the
together in this initiative. daily across labours of such visionary luminaries are reaped by
n Delivering hope, more than many future generations. Today, guided by this very
nutrition, and education 1.1 million same vision, the government provides free food
through every meal. government grains to approximately 800 million people through
schools.
the ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’. n

April 16-30, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 33