Jammu, May 21: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Thursday laid the foundation stone of Akshaya Patra’s centralized kitchen facility in Katra. Once operational, this facility will provide 5000 nutritious meals to school children every day.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also spoke about Akshaya Patra’s future projects in the Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir including the upcoming kitchen facility in Jammu.
"I urged stronger collaboration between Government and Social Organisations to empower the younger generation. 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.
He spoke on legacy in ordinary life emphasising that it rests on 3 questions - what are we creating, what are we preserving, and what will we hand over to future generations? He said we must add another question to that list: what are we feeding our children?
He further observed that nutrition of our young generation will shape our future.
Sinha stated that a hungry child cannot learn, and a school that cannot feed its children cannot honestly create equal opportunities for progress. “The decades of global research and their outcomes have shown that nutrition and education are not separate things; education rests on the foundation of good nutrition.”
"Children who eat balanced, nutritious meals concentrate better, retain information more effectively, and participate more actively in class. Protein, vitamins, and a balanced diet supply the basic energy for thinking and understanding of a child. I want every school in Jammu Kashmir to remember, when we provide nutritious meals in schools, we are not merely filling stomachs but we are shaping future thinking. The next generation is not just our future but they are the living expression of the dream and aspiration we wish to build as a nation. Their education, health, and confidence are a shared pledge and a collective responsibility of society. The values, knowledge, and faith we instill in children today will shape Jammu Kashmir’s and India’s decades to come," the Lieutenant Governor said.
He applauded self-less service of Akshay Patra, which is among the world's largest NGOs in the school meal sector, currently serving over 20 lakh children across 16 states and 3 UTs.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also served the meal to the school students.
Bharatarshabha Dasa, National President & Trustee, The Akshaya Patra Foundation; Baldev Raj Sharma, Member of Legislative Assembly; Kuldeep Raj Dubey, Member of Legislative Assembly; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Ram Niwas Sharma, Commissioner/Secretary School Education Department; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Shiv Kumar Sharma, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range; Kumar Abhishek, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi; Uday C. Rege from Savita Oil Technologies; senior officials, members of Akshaya Patra Foundation and students in large number attended the ceremony.