Narayana Health & Annapoorna Trust Begin Fifth Year of Partnership to Provide Morning Nutrition to 1,185 Government School Children in Bengaluru
A nutritious breakfast can be the first step towards a healthier, more attentive and productive school day. Reaffirming this shared commitment, Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust and Narayana Health have commenced the fifth year of their partnership to provide morning nutrition to children in Government schools across Bengaluru.
As part of the latest phase, 8 Government schools with 1,185 students will receive freshly cooked breakfast five days a week, helping children begin their school day with nourishment and energy.
The inaugural function was held on 11 August 2026 at Karnataka Public School (KPS), Sarakki, Bengaluru. The school, which is completing its 98th year, is preparing to celebrate its centenary two years from now. The event commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by representatives of Narayana Health, Annapoorna Trust and the School Development Monitoring Committee (SDMC), marking the beginning of another year of this meaningful collaboration.
The school was represented by Headmistress Yashodamma, teachers and staff, along with Muni Bairappa, President, School Development Monitoring Committee (SDMC).
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Responsibility
Representing Narayana Health at the programme were Ankit Shrimali, DGM & CSR Head; Jayavardhan, Marketing Head – Banashankari; Sant Kumar, Marketing Head – HSR; Muthuraj, Regional CSR Head – Karnataka; Anuj Kumar, DGM – Corporate Finance; Jyothish Kumar, DGM – ESG; Rajesh Kumar, Manager – Corporate Finance; and Vinay P, IT Technical Lead.
Annapoorna Trust was represented by Ashish Bhardwaj, Trustee & CDO; Sushanth Karanth, National Manager – Corporate Communications; Chetana T J, Manager – CSR Data Management; R Rajiv, Manager – Operations, Karnataka; and B S Sai Bhashkara, Manager – CSR & Operations, Karnataka & operation team members.
Addressing the gathering, Ashish Bhardwaj, Trustee & CDO, Annapoorna Trust, expressed his gratitude to Narayana Health for continuing the partnership into its fifth year. He highlighted that the collaboration represents more than a CSR initiative—it is a collective effort towards building a healthier and better-equipped generation.
He spoke about the importance of ensuring that children receive breakfast at the beginning of their school day, particularly those who may arrive at school without adequate nourishment. He also highlighted Annapoorna Trust’s practice of conducting impact assessments and collecting beneficiary testimonials every year.
According to the observations shared through these assessments, the Morning Nutrition Programme has a positive influence across several dimensions, including attendance, classroom concentration, academic engagement and children’s overall health.
He emphasised the interconnected nature of nutrition, education and health, stating that the collective efforts of organisations such as Narayana Health and Annapoorna Trust can contribute to building citizens who are healthy, productive and academically strong.
Encouraging the children, he said that the programme was ultimately for their benefit and urged them to make the most of the opportunity, study well and aspire to become future professionals, including doctors.
Making Breakfast Part of Every Child’s School Day
Ankit Shrimali, DGM & CSR Head, Narayana Health, welcomed the students, teachers and guests and spoke about the importance of beginning each day with a nutritious breakfast.
He explained that just as nature follows a regular rhythm every day, children too need the right nourishment to begin their day well. The partnership with Annapoorna Trust is aimed at ensuring that children receive a healthy breakfast in the morning and have the energy required to learn and participate actively in school.
He also reminded the students about the importance of not wasting food and encouraged them to make good use of the nourishment provided to them.
Supporting Children Through Nutrition
Muni Bairappa, President of the SDMC, appreciated the initiative and highlighted the importance of breakfast for school-going children. He noted that some children arrive at school without having eaten in the morning and said that the nutritious breakfast being provided through the partnership would help them learn with greater interest and avoid dependence on unhealthy food choices.
He emphasised that today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens and encouraged the students to use every opportunity available to them to excel in life.
He also appreciated the efforts of HM Yashodamma and the teaching staff in nurturing the students and noted the school’s strong academic performance. He shared that the school has achieved a 99% pass percentage and that meritorious students would also be encouraged with prizes during the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.
Reflecting on the changing educational landscape, he observed that Government schools today have access to many facilities and opportunities that were not available during earlier generations.
From Breakfast to Bigger Dreams
Muthuraj, Regional CSR Head, Narayana Health – Karnataka, began by interacting with the students and asking whether they had already eaten breakfast. The response highlighted the relevance of the initiative, as many students had not had breakfast before coming to school.
He spoke about Dr. Devi Shetty, Founder of Narayana Health, and the organisation’s commitment to making quality healthcare accessible. He also shared that a new Narayana Health facility is expected to come up in Banashankari shortly.
Explaining the rationale behind the breakfast initiative, he said that many children across the country come to school on an empty stomach. Narayana Health currently supports breakfast for around 6,000 students across India, reflecting its commitment to the health and well-being of children.
He also shared that Narayana Health provides scholarships to deserving students aspiring to pursue careers as medical professionals, helping support their educational journey and making their aspirations more attainable. He encouraged the children to make the most of the opportunities available to them, have breakfast regularly, study well and work towards achieving their dreams.
Nourishing the Future
The event concluded with a vote of thanks, followed by the serving of freshly cooked breakfast to the children by the esteemed guests.
The fifth year of the Narayana Health–Annapoorna Trust partnership is another step towards ensuring that children can begin their school day with dignity, nourishment and renewed energy.
The initiative reflects a larger shared vision: nutrition strengthens education, education opens possibilities, and together they contribute to a healthier society.
With the continued support of partners such as Narayana Health, Annapoorna Trust looks forward to reaching many more children and ensuring that no child has to begin the school day hungry.
