Akshaya Patra Foundation conducts training to improve mid-day meal qty

The Akshaya Patra Foundation has mandated six-monthly refresher training programmes, aimed at boosting the compliance to guidelines (including those which ensure that the nutritional aspects of mid-day meals are met) and the implementation of the industry’s best practices.

“Sustainability is strongly reflected through the training and documentation of various processes in a systematic manner. These are called standard operating procedures (SOP),” Muralidhar Pundla, the foundation’s general manager, quality and process excellence department, stated.

A dedicated quality team comprising three members will ensure that the employees are trained in the improvement methodologies and quality and food safety guidelines. The team will also encourage, guide and monitor the implementation of the food safety and quality-related projects. 

“As a value addition by the foundation, the menu designed for the mid-day meal scheme is suited to the local preferences. At every location, the menu changes every week. Children are provided a refreshing, tasty and nutritious meal every day, six days a week,” Pundla added.

“They will be offered three items. The first of these is the staple - i.e., rice in the south and wheat-based rotis in the north. The second item is rich is lentils and vegetables. The third item is either curd or a sweet. This would ensure that the children look forward to the meal at school everyday,” he added. 

Additionally, the cooking process has been designed in such a way that the cooked food retains the maximum nutrition. For instance, the sambar and rice is cooked with steam instead of fire, thereby retaining the nutrients. 

Akshaya Patra stated that while it stuck to only providing quality and clean food, it was the government that supplied micro-nutrients in the form of tablets at the schools it runs. However, Pundla stated that the foundation used double-fortified salt (i.e. salt that has been fortified with iron and iodine) in its cooking, as it was a mandate from the government. 

When asked about the investments are made by the foundation in these initiatives, he stated that investment was more in terms of the time and effort, with regards to International Standards Organisation (ISO) certification and retention, consultation with Six Sigma experts and connecting with independent teams for internal audit and compliance.