Jammu: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Thursday laid the foundation stone of Akshaya Patra Foundation’s centralized mid-day meal kitchen at Katra, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between the government and social organisations to secure the future of children through proper nutrition.
Once operational, the facility will provide around 5,000 nutritious meals every day to school children in the region.
The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted Akshaya Patra’s upcoming projects in the Union Territory, including another centralized kitchen facility planned for Jammu.
Addressing the gathering, Sinha said every child deserves access to healthy and nourishing food and emphasized that no child should be left behind.
“We must ensure that school children receive balanced, nourishing meals. A hungry child cannot learn, and a school that cannot feed its children cannot honestly create equal opportunities for progress,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor observed that nutrition and education are deeply interconnected and said balanced meals improve concentration, learning ability and classroom participation among children.
“When we provide nutritious meals in schools, we are not merely filling stomachs but shaping future thinking,” he said, adding that the health and education of children represent a collective responsibility of society.
Reflecting on the idea of legacy, Sinha said society often asks what it is creating, preserving and passing on to future generations, but another important question must also be asked — “What are we feeding our children?”
“The nutrition of our young generation will shape our future,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also appreciated the contribution of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, one of the world’s largest NGOs working in the school meal sector, which currently serves over 20 lakh children across 16 states and three Union Territories.
During the event, Sinha also served meals to school children present at the function.
