Akshaya Patra launches millet snacks in mid-day meals

Kokapet: The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Telangana launched its first pilot for introducing millet items into the government school meal programme with an aim of enhancing nutritional intake of its beneficiaries. The broader agenda of this initiative is to bring back the nutritional properties of millets to the modern population and to integrate millets, school health and farmers into a sustainable ecosystem.

Launched on a grand scale for the first time in India, the pilot project will cover 1,05,724 children in government schools and anganwadi centres across four districts of Telangana

The launch of the pilot was held at Akshaya Patra’s hi-tech kitchen at Kokapet, Narsingi in the august presence of Chief Guest, Kadiyam Srihari ,Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister of Telangana.

Special Guests present at the event were Prakash Goud – MLA, Sunita Mahender Reddy – ZP Chairperson RR Dist, Dr. David Bergvinson - Director General, ICRISAT and Lakshmaiah – Deputy Director, NIN, Rahul – Senior Consultant UNICEF. The event was presided by Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa –President, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Telangana & Andhra Pradesh.

Prior to the launch, the dignitaries were given a tour of Akshaya Patra Telangana’s latest hi-tech kitchen. They were visibly impressed by the centralised kitchen operations and the latest features that were put to use efficiently in designing the kitchen.

All the dignitaries lauded the Foundation for its scale of operations and nature of service.
Speaking on the occasion, Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa said, “Millets contain much higher amount of proteins, fiber and essential minerals than wheat, rice and other cereal grains. Apart from imparting health to our beneficiaries, the millet initiative will also prove beneficial for our farmer brothers by creating new market opportunities.

Moreover, millets are environment friendly that adds to its overall goodness. This is our first foray aimed at targeted nutrition and we are very happy to launch it through our Telangana Unit. We wholeheartedly thank the Government of Telangana and the Education Department & District Administration for their continuous support & encouragement to all our endeavours. To this, we express our commitment to rendering more valuable services towards society in future”.

This pilot is a part of Akshaya Patra’s continuous endeavour and commitment towards providing better nutrition to its beneficiaries. Leading subject matter experts and nutritionists are being involved in designing and supervising this innovative project.

By the application of scientifically proven research methodologies, the millet pilot will aim at enhancing the nutritional intake of Akshaya Patra’s beneficiaries by providing them scientifically tested millet items that aim at addressing chronic nutritional deficiencies visible in school and anganwadi children. The International Crops Research Institute of the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is the knowledge partner leading this approach in collaboration with Akshaya Patra.

Currently, Akshaya Patra is serving mid-day meals across four districts of Telangana - Sangareddy, Medak, Vikarabad and Mahbubnagar. It reaches out to a total of 1194 government schools and anganwadi centres, serving hot, nutritious meals to 1,05,724 beneficiaries every school day.

As a part of this initiative, the beneficiaries will be receiving millets in the forms of khaja, chikki, laddoos, etc. as a third item along with the regular school meals from Akshaya Patra’s centralised kitchens. Apart from nutrition supplementation, this project will also strive to encourage small and marginal farmers.

The Foundation is optimistic of driving more industry experts and groups of similar focus to support this initiative aimed at contributing towards health and nutrition of the country’s children.