| Mid-day
Meal Program of ISKCON Food Relief Foundation.
Mid-day Meal Program is a Government initiative
undertaken by us. This program covers 15 crore
children around the country. Out of which we are
providing meals to 6 lakh children from our 16
centers.
In Maharashtra, there are 4 kitchens- Tardeo (Mumbai),
Mira Road (Mira Bhayandar), Palghar (thane district)
and Nigadi (Pune district). Form these 4 kitchens
we are catering to 1,76,000 children, covering
more than 2, 000 schools.
The logistics of the project is that we have to
reach the schools during their lunch hour, and
within half an hour we have to give container
to each classroom.
After which the children eats the meal and gets
ready for their next class. So it is very important
to reach on time. With in Maharashtra, we have
66 vans that take the meals to the schools.
In Maharashtra, we serve Khichdi (mixture of rice,
dal and vegetables). All the six days we give
different types of Khichdi to add variety in the
meal. Our kitchens are ISO certified.
We are registered for 35AC, which gives 100% tax
exemption on our donations and also FCRA (Foreign
Contribution Regulation Act) for foreign donations.
Government provides us with the (raw) rice needed
for cooking. In addition the Government is also
suppose to provide Rs. 1.75 per day per child.
The cost of the meal to us is about Rs. 3.50.
So we have to bridge the gap of Rs. 1.75 by raising
funds.
We have a wonderful response from the teachers,
parents and the children. The Education Minister
of South Mumbai, Ms. Basanti Roy said that the
impact on children’s health, their retention
level in the classroom and attendance all has
improved. This is the same report that we have
got from all the centers across.
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