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NEW DELHI: Ensuring good nutrition for a child is an investment in human capital, President Droupadi Murmu said Tuesday emphasising that children are not merely beneficiaries of the midday meal programme in schools, rather they are the architects of the nation’s bright future.Murmu was speaking at an event to commemorate the the milestone of serving 5 billion meals and 25 years of service to the cause by Akshaya Patra Foundation at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. The President said that serving five billion meals in advancement of educational objectives is a remarkable achievement of the not-for-profit organisation.As an implementing partner of the govt of India’s flagship PM POSHAN initiative, Akshaya Patra has been serving fresh, nutritious meals to millions of children studying in govt schools across India. Murmu added that theme of the event, ‘From a Well-Nourished and Well-Educated India to a Developed India’, underscores the significance of a nourished and educated society in realising the national resolve to build ‘Viksit Bharat’ by the year 2047.In a symbolic gesture, the President also served food to a group of children. Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Akshaya Patra Foundation’s founder and chairman Madhu Pandit Dasa co-founder and vice-chairman Chanchalapathi Dasa were present on the occasion.“Children are not just beneficiaries of the free school lunch programme; they are the drivers of a productive, competitive future workforce to ensure a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Every meal is an investment in our nation’s human capital, resulting in a healthy, educated youth demographic dividend that will contribute to the socio-economic growth of a new and developed India,” she added.Murmu commended Akshaya Patra for working continuously to address the issue of malnutrition among children and encourage them to pursue education by delivering mid-day meals to schools for the past 25 years.Education minister Pradhan said, “Unless our children and youth are well-nourished, India cannot fully realise its potential.”
