Associated News Bureau

LG Lays Foundation Stone of Akshaya Patra Centralised Kitchen in Katra, Calls Nutrition Key to Nation Building

Jammu, May 21: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday laid the foundation stone of The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s centralized mid-day meal kitchen facility in Katra, aimed at providing nutritious meals to nearly 5,000 school children every day 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 that no child is deprived of healthy and balanced food. He said nutrition and education are deeply interconnected and emphasized that every child deserves access to nourishing meals for proper growth and learning. Highlighting the importance of child nutrition, the Lieutenant Governor remarked that society must not only focus on what it creates and preserves for future generations, but also on “what we are feeding our children.” He observed that the nutrition of the younger generation would shape the future of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the nation. He further stated that a hungry child cannot learn effectively and stressed that schools must provide equal opportunities for progress through proper nutrition. Referring to global research, he said balanced diets improve concentration, learning capacity, and classroom participation among children. The Lieutenant Governor praised the selfless service of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, one of the world’s largest NGOs in the school meal sector, currently serving over 20 lakh children across 16 states and three Union Territories. He also served meals to school students during the event. Among those present on the occasion were Bharatarshabha Dasa, Baldev Raj Sharma, Kuldeep Raj Dubey, senior civil and police officials, members of the foundation, and a large number of students.