At the serving counter of a school in Shahapur, Thane district, Maharashtra, a student receives a serving of hot rice while other children await their turn. It is an everyday scene, and one that unfolds across 14 Ashram schools in Shahapur, Murbad and Bhiwandi. Behind it, however, is a substantial effort to improve how meals are prepared, stored and served.
During Lions year 2024–2025, District 3231A2 constructed new kitchens and dining spaces or renovated existing facilities at these schools. Undertaken under the leadership of then District Governor CA Manish Ladage and Project Chairperson Sunil Pathare, the ₹1.90 crore initiative serves approximately 10,000 students from tribal communities.
The funding brought together a US$135,000 Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) Hunger Grant, equivalent to approximately ₹1.15 crore; ₹35 lakh in CSR contributions; and ₹40 lakh from the district and its Lions clubs. Club members also supported the project as volunteers.
The upgraded kitchens are equipped with commercial gas stoves, cooking utensils and stainless steel racks for safer, more orderly storage. Water coolers have been installed, while bain-marie counters keep cooked food at the appropriate temperature until it is served.
When a child eats with dignity, they learn with dignity.
When a child eats with dignity, they learn with dignity.
~ CA Manish Ladage
District Governor (2024-2025)
The dining facilities are equally important. Stainless steel tables and benches give children a clean, designated place to sit and eat together, with plates and glasses provided for daily use. Together, the upgraded kitchens and dining spaces help ensure that students receive nutritious meals, served hot and hygienically, every day. By supporting children’s health and helping address malnutrition, the initiative can also contribute to better concentration and more regular school attendance. Just as importantly, it allows every child to eat in a clean, comfortable setting with proper seating.
Speaking about the project, then District Governor CA Manish Ladage said: “This is not just a kitchen upgradation. This is an investment in the health, education, and future of 10,000 children. By bringing together LCIF, CSR partners, and our Lions Clubs, we have created a sustainable model that proves how collective action can transform lives at scale. When a child eats with dignity, they learn with dignity.”
The initiative also advances Lions International’s global cause of Hunger, translating a broad service priority into infrastructure that schools can use every day.
The kitchens are no longer simply a completed project; they are part of how these 14 schools function each day. At every mealtime, the counters fill again: plates held out, food served hot and a clean bench on which to sit before the next class begins.