LG Manoj Sinha Lays Foundation Stone of Akshaya Patra’s Centralised Mid-Day Meal Kitchen in Katra
Jammu, May 21 (PTK): Manoj Sinha on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s centralised mid-day meal kitchen facility in Katra, which will provide around 5,000 nutritious meals daily to school children once operational.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor called for stronger collaboration between the government and social organisations to empower the younger generation and ensure access to healthy and balanced food for every child.
“We must ensure that school children receive balanced, nourishing meals. Every child deserves access to healthy food and we need to make sure no child is left behind,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that nutrition and education are deeply interconnected and said a hungry child cannot effectively learn or participate in education. He observed that providing nutritious meals in schools is not merely about feeding children but about shaping the future of society.
Speaking on the importance of legacy and responsibility towards future generations, he said society must reflect not only on what it creates and preserves, but also on what it feeds its children.
“Nutrition of our young generation will shape our future,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He further stated that decades of global research have established that balanced nutrition directly impacts concentration, learning ability, memory retention and active participation of children in classrooms.
“Children who eat balanced, nutritious meals concentrate better, retain information more effectively and participate more actively in class,” he said, adding that schools must recognize nutritious meals as an essential foundation of quality education.
The Lieutenant Governor also appreciated the humanitarian work being carried out by The Akshaya Patra Foundation, which is among the world’s largest NGOs operating in the school meal sector and currently serves over 20 lakh children across 16 states and three Union Territories.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also served meals to school students and spoke about future projects of the Foundation in Jammu and Kashmir, including an upcoming kitchen facility in Jammu.
Among those present on the occasion were Bharatarshabha Dasa, National President and Trustee of Akshaya Patra Foundation; MLA Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Baldev Raj Sharma; MLA Reasi Kuldeep Raj Dubey; Principal Secretary to LG Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Commissioner Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma; IGP Kashmir Bhim Sen Tuti; Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar; DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range Shiv Kumar Sharma; Deputy Commissioner Reasi Kumar Abhishek; representatives of Akshaya Patra Foundation, senior officials and school students.(PTK)
