LUCKNOW: To strengthen the school nutrition and combat malnutrition among children, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Akshaya Patra Foundation’s state-of-the-art centralised kitchen in Gorakhpur. It is established with the support of the Uttar Pradesh government and will initially provide freshly cooked meals to over 55,000 students before gradually expanding its reach to one lakh children studying in government schools across Gorakhpur and nearby areas.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Minister laid stress on the importance of nutritious and hygienically prepared food in ensuring children’s physical and mental development. He said that a healthy society can only be built when children receive clean, balanced meals from an early age. “Clean and nutritious food is important for good health. To end malnutrition, children must get healthy meals prepared in hygienic conditions. Healthy and well-nourished children will help build a prosperous society and a strong nation,” the Chief Minister said.
आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी का संकल्प है- 'हर बच्चा स्वस्थ हो',
इस संकल्प की सिद्धि हेतु आज जनपद गोरखपुर में अक्षय पात्र फाउंडेशन की केंद्रीकृत रसोईघर का उद्घाटन किया।
सभी बच्चों, गुरुजनों और अभिभावकों को हृदय से बधाई एवं अक्षय पात्र फाउंडेशन के प्रति मेरी… pic.twitter.com/cGor5dCwxA
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) June 25, 2026
Kitchen to Strengthen PM POSHAN Implementation
The newly inaugurated facility has been established under the PM POSHAN scheme and is designed to prepare and distribute up to one lakh hot meals every day. According to the Akshaya Patra Foundation, the kitchen will initially serve nearly 55,000 children studying in 546 schools, with operations expanding in phases to cover one lakh students across 1,570 schools.
The centralised kitchen is equipped with two automated roti-making machines with a combined production capacity of 40,000 rotis per hour, allowing meals to be prepared at scale while maintaining hygiene and quality standards. To facilitate efficient distribution, the foundation has deployed a fleet of 23 electric vehicles, which will deliver freshly cooked meals to schools across Gorakhpur and adjoining areas. CM Yogi noted that the state government provides food grains and conversion costs under the Mid-Day Meal programme, while the Akshaya Patra Foundation is responsible for preparing and delivering meals in accordance with prescribed nutritional standards.
Expanding Akshaya Patra’s Presence in Uttar Pradesh
The Chief Minister said the Gorakhpur kitchen adds to the network of Akshaya Patra Foundation facilities already functioning in Mathura, Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra and Kanpur. With the commissioning of the Gorakhpur unit, the foundation’s school meal programme has further expanded its footprint in eastern Uttar Pradesh. He commended the organisation for maintaining high standards of cleanliness during food preparation and distribution. He said cases of food poisoning often result from poor hygiene practices and emphasised that strict cleanliness must be maintained at every stage of food preparation and distribution.
The Chief Minister said the initiative would support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Suposhan Mission by providing nutritious meals to schoolchildren. He said balanced and healthy food helps improve children’s health, keeps them active, and enables them to concentrate better in the classroom. He said Mission Kayakalp has helped improve infrastructure in basic schools, while Project Alankar has strengthened facilities in government and government-aided secondary schools. He urged teachers to ensure that every eligible child is admitted to school. He also directed that students should receive all benefits under government schemes, including uniforms, school bags, shoes, socks and other essential items.
CM Yogi said the state has made major improvements in the conduct of board examinations. He said the exams are now completed in around 15 days, and results are declared within the next 15 days, giving students nearly 11 months for studies. He added that the government is setting up Atal Tinkering Labs, Smart Classes and Digital Libraries to improve learning in schools. He also said Abhyudaya Coaching is available in every district to help students prepare for competitive examinations.
Akshaya Patra Foundation Co-founder and Vice Chairman Chanchalapati Das reiterated that the foundation’s mission is to ensure that no child is deprived of education because of hunger. According to the foundation, the Gorakhpur facility has been developed to provide nutritious, balanced and freshly prepared meals while maintaining high standards of food safety and operational efficiency.
