“Children Must Have Nutritious Food, Quality Education”: President Murmu

• President marks Akshaya Patra’s 5 billion meals achievement
• Stresses nutrition and education as pillars of Viksit Bharat
• Highlights impact of PM POSHAN on school attendance
• Calls for collective responsibility towards children’s future

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th March: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday attended a special event at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre to mark the milestone of five billion meals served by the Akshaya Patra Foundation, describing the achievement as a major contribution to India’s development goals.

Addressing the gathering, the President said that the initiative reflects the crucial link between nutrition and education, both of which are essential for building a developed India by 2047. Referring to the event’s theme, she noted that a well-nourished and well-educated society forms the backbone of the vision for ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Murmu emphasised that ensuring a safe and promising future for children is a shared responsibility. She said that coordinated efforts by families, educators, social organisations, and the corporate sector are necessary to guarantee access to quality education, nutritious food, healthcare, and a safe environment.

Highlighting the role of education in shaping lives, she said it opens pathways to opportunity and empowerment. Schools, she added, equip children with skills, discipline, and values needed to become responsible citizens. She commended the Akshaya Patra Foundation for its sustained work over the past 25 years in addressing malnutrition and supporting school education through mid-day meals.

The President also underlined the impact of the PM POSHAN Scheme, stating that it has led to improved enrolment, attendance, and retention in schools. She noted that studies show better learning outcomes among children benefiting from the programme. She further acknowledged the foundation’s contribution in advancing the goals of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, which aims to ensure inclusive and quality education by 2030.

Murmu said children are not merely beneficiaries of welfare programmes but the architects of the nation’s future. She added that investment in their nutrition and education today will shape India’s workforce and drive its growth in the decades ahead.

The event highlighted the growing importance of integrated efforts between government initiatives and social organisations in strengthening India’s human capital and long-term development trajectory.