Project Chintan

Breakfast service launched for children with hearing and speech disabilities in Mysuru

A new breakfast service for children with hearing and speech disabilities was launched at the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing in Mysuru. The initiative, a collaboration between AIISH and the Akshaya Patra Foundation, was inaugurated on August 18, 2026, at the Panchavati campus.

· 2 min read

Key takeaways

  • A new breakfast program was launched at AIISH in Mysuru for children with hearing and speech disabilities.
  • The initiative is a collaboration between AIISH and the Akshaya Patra Foundation, with local government support from Mysuru Zilla Panchayat.
  • Akshaya Patra already runs substantial midday meal programs for government schoolchildren in Karnataka and is expanding to assist disadvantaged groups and special-needs populations.

What Happened

The All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) in Mysuru launched a breakfast service for children with hearing and speech disabilities visiting its Panchavati campus. The launch event was led by Yukesh Kumar, the chief executive officer of Mysuru Zilla Panchayat, and it was a joint effort between AIISH and the Akshaya Patra Foundation. Iskcon’s Stoka Krishna Swami noted that Akshaya Patra, which already provides free midday meals to government schoolchildren in Karnataka, is expanding its services to disadvantaged groups and persons with special needs. AIISH director Pushpavathi explained that the breakfast initiative was designed to meet the needs of children and their parents who visit the facility, offering them a fresh and nutritious start to the day.

The event included participation from AIISH officials and staff, with the Zilla Panchayat CEO facilitating discussions with the Akshaya Patra Foundation to arrange the breakfast service. The programme was named ‘Akshaya Patra’ and aims to sustain ongoing good deeds and service to the community.

Why It Matters

The collaboration brings a morning nutrition support specifically for children with hearing and speech disabilities, complementing existing midday meal programmes and broader public health or educational support efforts. The involvement of a state-level local government entity and a large NGO-backed feeding initiative suggests a coordinated approach to addressing welfare needs for a subset of differently-abled children within Karnataka.

Background

Akshaya Patra Foundation currently provides midday meals to more than 20,000 government schoolchildren across Karnataka under a joint program with the State and Union governments. The new breakfast service on the AIISH campus represents an expansion of the Foundation’s activities to include a targeted breakfast option for children with special needs visiting a medical and educational facility.

Key Facts

  • Location: All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Panchavati campus, Mysuru
  • Date of launch: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
  • Inaugurator: Yukesh Kumar, chief executive officer, Mysuru Zilla Panchayat
  • Collaborating entities: AIISH and the Akshaya Patra Foundation
  • Purpose: Provide breakfast to children with hearing and speech disabilities visiting AIISH
  • Context: Akshaya Patra Foundation already runs midday meals for over 20,000 government schoolchildren in Karnataka
  • Spokesperson remark: ISKCON’s Stoka Krishna Swami indicated expansion of Akshaya Patra’s services to disadvantaged groups and persons with special needs

What Happens Next

The material outlines the launch and initial setup but does not specify further scheduled actions or timelines for expansion beyond the stated objective and the ongoing collaboration with AIISH and Akshaya Patra. The initiative is presented as a continuing effort to support breakfast needs for the target group.

Sources reviewed

Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.

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