Union home minister Rajnath Singh praised the Akshaya Patra Foundation for providing food to children in Lucknow, besides in 10 other states as well as promoting Government of India's skill India programme.
"Since the foundation is also providing scholarship to class X pass outs, it is contributing to the prime minister's skill development mission," said Singh, attending a function to mark completion of the foundation's one-year of operations in Lucknow, on Sunday.
"Since the foundation is also providing scholarship to class X pass outs, it is contributing to the prime minister's skill development mission," said Singh, attending a function to mark completion of the foundation's one-year of operations in Lucknow, on Sunday.
The Akshaya Patra implements the mid-day meal programme in UP in partnership with the state government.
Chairman of the foundation Madhu Pandit Dasa said, "A survey has reported that dropout rate of students in schools has gone down where meals are provided."
Earlier, the home minister also inspected the kitchen and even served food to students. Mayor Dinesh Sharma and BJP MP from Mohanlalganj Kaushal Kishore were also present.
The kitchen in Lucknow prepares 60,000 rotis, 10,000 litres milk and 7 tonnes of cooked rice in two hours. It serves 74,000 school children in 758 schools. The foundation plans to increase its capacity to 1 lakh children in the near future.
Chairman of the foundation Madhu Pandit Dasa said, "A survey has reported that dropout rate of students in schools has gone down where meals are provided."
Earlier, the home minister also inspected the kitchen and even served food to students. Mayor Dinesh Sharma and BJP MP from Mohanlalganj Kaushal Kishore were also present.
The kitchen in Lucknow prepares 60,000 rotis, 10,000 litres milk and 7 tonnes of cooked rice in two hours. It serves 74,000 school children in 758 schools. The foundation plans to increase its capacity to 1 lakh children in the near future.