Aurobindo Pharma Foundation (APF), the philanthropic arm of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, has launched its hi-tech centralized kitchen at Perumallapuram, in Kakinada SEZ in Andhra Pradesh. This centralized kitchen is the fourth one to be built by Aurobindo Pharma Foundation in collaboration with Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation (HKMCF). Currently, the kitchen has the capacity to produce 5,000 breakfast meals per day. The kitchen has a built-up area of 5,500 sq. ft. spread across 2 acres of land donated by Kakinada SEZ Limited.
The Kitchen was formally inaugurated by Hon’ble R&B Minister Mr. Dadisetti Raja at an event held on 15th December 2022, in the auspicious presence of His Grace Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Swami ji, President, Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation and dignitaries from Aurobindo Pharma Foundation.
The centralized kitchen is completely powered by solar equipment and has a capacity of preparing 5,000 breakfast meals per day and the food prepared mainly caters to the students studying in 41 Government schools in the region. The kitchen has sophisticated automated equipment such as an Idly batter dispenser, dough kneader, sambar cauldron – double jacketed (1200 litres) with auto-dispensing setup, vessels sterilization stands, etc., to maintain the highest quality, hygiene, and speed while preparing the meals so as to retain nutritional values, from the time of preparation to the time of serving the needy.
Along with the Inauguration of this kitchen, “Swasthya Ahara” – A free breakfast program in Government schools was also started. Swasthya Ahara is a free breakfast program primarily concentrated on providing hot and nutritious breakfast to the underprivileged children of Government Schools. Providing access to nutritious food which will go beyond nutrition, Swasthya Ahara will aid in the enrichment of underprivileged children fostering optimal growth and development. Currently, it will be implemented across 41 Govt. schools spread across 36 villages of U. Kothapalli and Thodangi mandals.
Speaking on the occasion, Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Swami ji, President of Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation, said “It is the desire of our Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada that nobody should go hungry within 10-mile radius of our center. With this objective Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation has taken up feeding programs like Bhojana-Amritam, Swasthya Ahara etc. We thank Hon’ble Cabinet Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Dadisetti Raja garu and the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for their strong support and encouragement. We are also thankful to Aurobindo Pharma Foundation and its Directors, Sri K. Nithyananda Reddy and Sri. P. Sarath Chandra Reddy, for their generous support. This hi-tech kitchen will serve many underprivileged in the district of Kakinada and thereby make our humble contribution to the development of Andhra Pradesh”.
Speaking on the same Sri K Nityananda Reddy, Director of Aurobindo Pharma Foundation and Managing Director & Vice Chairman, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, said, Breakfast meals act as a stimulus for children to come to school and continue their education. It has always been our endeavour to reach out and serve more children. The new kitchen will help us reach out to around 5000 children in the region with wholesome food and bring a positive change in their lives. Maintaining a high standard of nutrition, hygiene and will ensure the health of these students, thereby, reducing the rate of dropouts in schools. These children will be assured of nutritious and hygienic millet-based breakfast meals, which will go a long way in keeping them healthy by providing nutritious breakfast meals prepared in hygienic conditions, to aid in improving the health status of the rural children.
“This facility with state-of- art infrastructure is built within a record time of 4 months considering the dire need of nutritious meal for local children especially through a proper hot and healthy breakfast meal. This reflects our commitment towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 and 4 of United Nations and as adopted by GoI to supplement government efforts towards Zero Hunger and Quality Education, he further added”
Aurobindo Pharma Foundation, previously collaborated with HKMCF to construct 3 centralized kitchens in Narsingi at Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar in Telangana, and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, which is running successfully and have produced around 9.50 crore meals till date. This Kakinada project has an outlay of INR 12 crores and will cover the construction cost of the kitchen, along with the required infrastructure/equipment and operational costs of the kitchen for a period of 4 years from now.
The event concluded with Lunch to all the Dignitaries, School Students and Media associates.
