Delhi,
January 2026 : The Akshaya Patra Foundation undertook the
initiative of serving freshly cooked, wholesome meals by setting up a special
food kiosk near the Ratia Centre on Promenade Street during the World Economic
Forum Annual Meeting 2026, in Davos. Akshaya Patra served meals to more than a
thousand visitors every day, demonstrating how food can be a powerful catalyst
for dialogue, empathy, and action. The initiative drew the attention of leaders
and influencers to the organization’s efforts to provide food and nutrition
security for children and communities.
The
kiosk was inaugurated by Shri Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General,
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Union
Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and
Renewable Energy, Government of India, visited the Akshaya Patra kiosk and
appreciated the simplicity and nutritional value of the food. Shri Anoop
Dhingra, Deputy Ambassador from India to Switzerland, also paid a visit to the
kiosk and showed his support. Various international organizations, global
delegates, policymakers, business leaders, and civil society representatives
stopped by the kiosk and relished the hot, delicious Indian cuisine amid
sub-zero temperatures at the summit.
The
distinguished visitors viewed Akshaya Patra’s school lunch program for children
as an investment on par with physical infrastructure such as roads, power, and
digital connectivity. Just as infrastructure enables economic productivity,
nutrition enables cognitive development, learning outcomes, and long-term human
capital formation. Without adequate nourishment, the returns on education
systems and development spending remain fundamentally constrained.
Akshaya
Patra’s feeding initiative at Davos was praised as a powerful tool of cultural
diplomacy, offering global participants an opportunity to experience India’s
civilizational values rooted in compassion and service. Conversations sparked
around the meal counter extended beyond feeding programs to broader discussions
on sustainable food systems, public–private collaboration, and scalable,
cost-effective social infrastructure.
In
the event, the Akshaya Patra team highlighted the intrinsic link between
nutrition, education, and economic growth through the ancient Indian tradition
of Annadaan (extensive food distribution) at one of the world’s most
influential global platforms. The act of serving meals in Davos was not just
symbolic; it emphasized the conviction that no child should be deprived of
education due to hunger, and that nutrition is fundamental to child development
and welfare. Its presence at Davos 2026 reaffirmed that ensuring food and
nutrition security is strategic nation-building and global development
investment. The Foundation underscored a compelling message: investing in
children’s nutrition delivers some of the highest returns society can make, and
the world has both the means and responsibility to act collectively.
Akshaya
Patra has been proudly implementing the Government of India’s flagship PM
POSHAN program for the last 25 years by providing wholesome lunch to children
studying in government schools. The organization currently serves over 2.3
million children every school day in 16 states and 3 Union Territories across
India and aspires to feed 3 million children by 2030.
The
Davos feeding program was organized in partnership with World Food Movement
(WFM). Inspired by the success of Akshaya Patra, its founders established World
Food Movement last year with the aim of nourishing students and communities in
America and across the world. WFM will contribute extensively to global food
and nutrition security so that young minds can learn with energy and joy, and
communities across the world can find hope and dignity.
Sri
Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder and Chairman of Akshaya Patra and WFM, said,
“Akshaya Patra is a social innovation that has harnessed the potential of a
collaborative public-private partnership, integrating technology and good
governance to serve hot, nutritious meals in Indian schools for 25 years. Our
state-of-the-art, world-class kitchen facilities cook and distribute food at
scale and are studied globally for their quality and efficiency. WFM will
utilize the learning and expertise gathered from Akshaya Patra’s feeding
experience in its projects and initiatives.
We
are grateful to everyone who visited our kiosk and extended their good wishes,
support and encouragement to our feeding program. We believe that
collaborations and partnerships are essential for knowledge sharing and
ensuring the holistic development of children. We will be happy to partner with
organizations and agencies to increase our contribution to food and nutrition
security across the world.”
Sri
Naveena Neerada Dasa, Executive Director, Global Communications and Strategy,
said, “We thank the organizers for giving us the opportunity to serve freshly
cooked hot meals to delegates from across the globe during the World Economic
Forum Annual Meeting at Davos. It was truly satisfying to see visitors enjoy
hot, sumptuous, and tasty food during the cold winter week. We will take the
constructive conversations initiated here forward and work for the betterment
of children and society.
