Goyal Salt Limited expands manufacturing capacity with new Gandhidham plant
New facility to provide nutritious meals to over 25,000 students daily, supporting health, education, and economic growth
Deutsche Bank and The Akshaya Patra Foundation have further strengthened their long-standing partnership to combat classroom hunger by initiating the construction of a state-of-the-art kitchen in Shivajinagar, Pune. The groundbreaking ceremony for this innovative facility marks a major milestone in their joint efforts to enhance the lives of underprivileged children through the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is the implementing partner of the PM POSHAN initiative and the world’s largest NGO-run school meal program.
Expected to be operational by early 2026, the multi-level kitchen will provide over 25,000 daily hot, nutritious meals to students in government and government-aided schools across Pune. This initiative is aimed at improving school attendance, academic performance, and the overall health and well-being of marginalised children. The facility will adhere to the highest standards of hygiene and safety and is designed to serve as Akshaya Patra’s central kitchen in Pune. Beyond addressing nutrition and education, the project is poised to create employment opportunities and support local agriculture, fostering economic development within the community.
The ceremony was attended by Kaushik Shaparia, CEO of Deutsche Bank Group, India, along with Sampati Dasa, Regional President – Pune, The Akshaya Patra Foundation; Shridhar Venkat, CEO, of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Ruchi Khemka, Head – CSR, Deutsche Bank Group, India, Praveen NR, IFS, Prithviraj BP, IAS & other senior representatives from the Pune Government department & The Akshaya Patra Foundation and other dignitaries.