From Annadaan to Davos: Akshaya Patra serves India’s compassion on a global plate

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

DELHI, JANUARY 29, 2026

The Akshaya Patra Foundation made a warm and memorable impact at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos by serving freshly cooked, wholesome Indian meals through a special food kiosk set up near the Ratia Centre on Promenade Street. In the icy, sub-zero temperatures of the Swiss resort town, the aroma and warmth of Indian cuisine drew global attention as the Foundation served meals to more than a thousand visitors every day, turning food into a powerful medium for dialogue, empathy and collective action.

The initiative was inaugurated by Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry, marking a moment that symbolised the convergence of industry, policy and social purpose. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, visited the kiosk and lauded the simplicity, nutritional value and deeper intent behind the meals. Anoop Dhingra, Deputy Ambassador of India to Switzerland, also paid a visit and expressed support for the Foundation’s mission. Leaders from international organisations, policymakers, business executives and civil society representatives stopped by the kiosk, relishing hot Indian food while engaging in meaningful conversations on global development challenges.

Many distinguished visitors viewed Akshaya Patra’s school lunch programme as an investment comparable to physical infrastructure such as roads, power and digital connectivity. The discussions highlighted that while infrastructure drives economic productivity, nutrition underpins cognitive development, learning outcomes and long-term human capital formation. Without adequate nourishment, the returns on education systems and broader development spending remain fundamentally constrained.

Akshaya Patra’s presence at Davos was widely praised as an effective form of cultural diplomacy, offering the global community a living experience of India’s civilisational values rooted in compassion, service and Annadaan, the ancient tradition of food donation. Conversations at the meal counter extended beyond feeding programmes to broader themes of sustainable food systems, scalable social infrastructure and the importance of public–private collaboration in addressing global hunger and malnutrition.

Through this initiative, the Foundation reinforced a clear and compelling message at one of the world’s most influential platforms: no child should be denied education because of hunger, and nutrition is foundational to child welfare, economic growth and nation-building. The act of serving meals in Davos was not merely symbolic but a strong assertion that food and nutrition security represent one of the highest-return investments societies can make.

For the past 25 years, Akshaya Patra has been a key implementation partner of the Government of India’s flagship PM POSHAN programme, providing wholesome mid-day meals to children studying in government schools. Today, the organisation serves over 2.3 million children every school day across 16 states and three Union Territories and has set an ambitious goal of feeding 3 million children by 2030.

The Davos feeding programme was organised in partnership with the World Food Movement, a global initiative inspired by Akshaya Patra’s success. Founded last year, World Food Movement aims to nourish students and communities across America and other parts of the world, extending the learning and expertise developed in India to global contexts.

Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder and Chairman of Akshaya Patra and World Food Movement, said that Akshaya Patra represents a social innovation built on collaborative public–private partnerships, technology integration and strong governance. He noted that the organisation’s world-class kitchens are studied globally for their scale, quality and efficiency, and that World Food Movement will apply these learnings to its international projects. Expressing gratitude to the visitors and supporters at Davos, he emphasised that partnerships and knowledge-sharing are vital for the holistic development of children worldwide.

Naveena Neerada Dasa, Executive Director for Global Communications and Strategy, said the Foundation was thankful for the opportunity to serve hot, nutritious meals to delegates from across the globe during the WEF Annual Meeting. She added that it was deeply satisfying to see visitors enjoy Indian food in the harsh winter conditions and that the constructive conversations initiated at Davos would be carried forward to further strengthen efforts for the betterment of children and society.

With its warm meals in a cold global forum, Akshaya Patra reaffirmed that feeding children is not charity alone, but strategic social infrastructure and a shared global responsibility.