Kolkata, 16th September 2026: The Annamrita Foundation, supported by ISKCON and its volunteers, which had inaugurated Kolkata’s first central Mid-Day Meal kitchen on 1st August 2026 is expanding its services not just in the city of Kolkata but also in other regions of West Bengal in partnership with the Government of West Bengal.
The meals from the Annamrita Foundation’s Kolkata kitchen which presently serves the schools in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation region has been well received by the students, teachers and parents alike all who appreciate its cooking quality, nutrition, hygiene, and taste.
ISKCON, which was founded and registered in Mumbai by Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has over 450 branches across India. Of this, 35 branches and nearly 8000 congregation centers are in West Bengal. Today, ISKCON has over 1500 centers globally and its food distribution program is globally recognized by various governments, business establishments and civil society leaders within and outside of India.
ISKCON and its associated charitable initiatives have been engaged in food distribution and humanitarian service across India and internationally for decades and daily serve 40 lakh meals.
It is also clarified to the public herein that there has been a long-standing legal dispute concerning the ISKCON Bangalore society (founded in 1978 after the passing of ISKCON’s founder Srila Prabhupada) which had been used by Madhu Pandit Das and his relatives to illegally take over the temple administration of ISKCON Bangalore and its associated programs such as the Akshaya Patra. Therefore, it would be incorrect to treat every institution associated with the Bangalore society or its trustees as being under the management or governing structure of the original and the global ISKCON organization or popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement.
The Annamrita Foundation has been serving nutritious meals to government schools since 2004. Today, over 12 lakh meals are served across India including in Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, among other states.
