Annamrita - Food as pure as nectar.

I met Rupali Goswami, the lady associated with Annamrita and what an afternoon I had! one of the best conversations I've had recently, the lady was so driven with her passion. I could see the twinkle in her eye and the fire in her belly. A postgraduate in social work from Shanti Niketan, she has given up her corporate job to finally answer her true calling. She had so much of compassion and the cause was very close to her heart, could see that. She spoke with so much pride that she came from the institution where Rabindranath Tagore and Amratya Sen were alumni. It is noteworthy that the institution also has received two Nobel prizes, in its prestigious existence.

She came across as a typical Mumbai professional working for an NGO. We started chatting and she got me interested in her project, Annamrita - ISKON Food Relief foundation. She was here to make a presentation to our students. When she was talking to me in my office I found myself picking up my diary and taking notes, told her that I would love to attend the session. There I was sitting through her presentation with my students.

I really don't know what makes me write this but yes it did strike a chord with me somewhere. Infact one of the students attending the session, asked her why should others look after these kids, when its the responsibility of their parents. This is what even I thought when I was that age but over the years have observed that in the lower strata of the society they don't have the privilege of having a solid family foundation and bonding. The system is not able to sustain itself and may disintegrate as a family unit and then everyone is left  to fend for themselves including the little children. More than financial help they need opportunities, opportunities to make their life, have a future. These children also have dreams like others and given the right platform and opportunity they can shine too. 

Learnt a few things about Annamrita. Here are my notes from the session, Food for thought!

• There are millions of NGOs around the globe, for every 400 individuals there's an NGO.
• ISKCON Food Relief Foundation (IFRF) is a not-for-profit, non-religious, non-sectarian public charitable trust formed on April 23, 2004 and registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950.
• IFRF believes in providing children with the right nutrition to support their education. This program is based on the belief that ‘you are what you eat’.
• The Midday Meal Scheme of Govt of India is being implemented by IFRF under the name of ‘Annamrita’. A majority of the population in India is still unable to get even one complete square meal for the day. The khichdi (a rice preparation with lentils) prepared nourishes the mind, body and soul alike.
• One can help every child in India get an education, if he/ she donates that one wholesome meal. 
• Annamrita caters over 12,00,000 meals everyday from  20 kitchen across 8 states.
• The mid day meal motivated students to come to school, before the scheme the attendance was 18 to 20, it  went up to 200 once the meals were served in school, says one of the school teachers in Mumbai. . The reason being children would quit school to earn a livelihood for them. Education broadens one's thinking and prospective in life.
• In India, among the underprivileged, one nutritious meal a day brings thousands of children to school.
• The khichdi is prepared with the highest standards of hygiene and quality ingredients that meet the nutritional requirements of growing children. Different varieties of khichdi are made.
• The meals are prepared at the central kitchen, there are two in Mumbai in Tardeo and Mira Road respectively. The preparations start as early as 2.30 am and the first dispatch happens in the van at 7.30 am and the last one is at 11.30 am.
• The lunchtime is the same in every school so the meal has to reach on time every time. All care is taken to ensure that, traffic jams or vehicle failure are kept into account and ample leeway is given.
• The schools have 220 working days in a year. The cost of each meal is about Rs. 4.50 per day per child, that makes Rs. 900 per child for the entire year.
• The foundation prepares meals for 300000 children everyday  and the food  is dispatched through 99 vehicles across 1602 schools in Maharashtra. Just imagine when these figures are multiplied into  8 different states, Annnamrita is reaching out to 1200000 children everyday.
• The kitchens are ISO 22000: 2005 certified, they prepare nutritious Satvik food in a hygienic environment.

Rupali also informed us that the operating cost of the kitchens is 3.5 crores Each day, the deficit cost of feeding 1200000 children  is about 22- 23 lakhs. There is a need for them to generate funds on a regular basis to manage the same. A lot of it comes from the corporates and individual donors. She has been taking this project to the educational institutions across Mumbai. She says more than getting the funds its creating awareness and a sense of responsibility towards the less privileged.

If you wish to know more about Annamrita please write to Rupali at rupali@annamrita.org and follow the link:http://annamrita.org/

My meeting Rupali was followed by my Colleague Chef Manoj Patkar visiting the Annamrita on a culinary journey, he has a beautiful account of the same narrated on his blog, http://patkarmanoj.blogspot.in/2013/09/iskcons-annamrita-so-true-to-its.html