PM Modi serves food to underprivileged children; calls NGO's 3rd billionth meal 'remarkable feat'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday served meal to a group of underprivileged schoolchildren in Vrindavan and praised the efforts of an NGO towards eradicating hunger from the country.

The event, hosted in the campus of Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, was organised to mark the serving of the 3rd billionth meal by the Akshaya Patra Foundation.

Modi arrived at the venue in a special chopper at 12 noon and was greeted with loud cheers as he walked on to the stage.

"Donation given to deserving people without thinking is 'satvik daan' (pure charity), Akshaya Patra is doing 'satvik daan'," the PM said.

"First thali through this NGO was served by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and "I feel fortunate to serve the third billionth thali today," Modi said.

From serving just 1,500 children in the beginning to over 17 lakh now, the NGO is helping in the growth of the country.

After his nearly 30-minute address, he served food to the schoolchildren from Vrindavan in a special pavilion made for the purpose, behind the main pavilion.

Modi also tweeted a video clip of it and said, "Had the honour of serving food to children in Vrindavan today".

Later in another tweet, he said,"3 billion meals is a remarkable feat! Happy to have joined the programme organised by the Akshaya Patra Foundation and interact with these wonderful youngsters."
Rubesh, a Class 6 student from Ram Taal here, was thrilled to meet him, and told PTI, "Modiji asked me, if I was eating well and playing regularly or not? Also, if teachers were feeding us properly in schools or not."