ISKCON Mid-Day-Meals Rice from Government Mostly Spoiled

[Translation from Hindi] Publish Date: Sun, 01 Sep 2019 03:56 PM (IST): Jamshedpur, Jans | Nourishing food is being given to school children to make them healthy. On Saturday in Bishtupur, at Thakkar Bapa Middle School, some children were lining up and taking food, and other children were sitting on a carpet on the verandah and eating. They were eating sambhar and rice. Toor, chana and moong dal were in the sambhar. Also in the sambhar were drumsticks (sahjan), taro root (arbi), pumpkin, eggplant, loki squash and raddish. A very nice aroma was coming from the sambhar. The headmaster couldn’t stop himself. He took some rice and sambhar in a saucer, tasted it, and said, “Very tasty sambhar!” The children also very eagerly ate the food. All were pleased.

Food Preparation

In the Bishtupur Central Kitchen food preparation starts as 12 midnight. First women pick through the rice and dal. Then machines wash the rice and dal and then automatically say when the washing is finished. Workers first by hand separate the rotten vegetables from the rest, and afterwards put them in a machine for cutting and washing. Rice, dal and sabji are made with machines.

Special Attention on Quality-Purity

In making ISKCON Company Mid-Day-Meals, special attention is given to quality and purity. Aside from rice, the company itself purchases all ingredients. The government gives rice. Before making meals and afterwards everything is washed with machines. Beforehand everything is cleaned by hand, and afterwards by machine. Fresh vegetables are bought from local bazaars. Spices, oil, and other ingredients from branded companies are used.

Spoiled Flavor of Rice

The flavor of the rice from the government for ISKCON Mid-Day-Meals is spoiled. The rice carries odors, is thick and has rocks and stones. Most sacks of rice are also rotten. For this reason making good-tasting food is troublesome.

Current Menu

Immediately, the ISKCON company has included rice, vegetables, sambhar and kheer on the menu. Very quickly the menu is being revised and will be better.

The Project Manager Said

Nourishing meals are going to be given to children in schools. For this menus have been given by departments. According to the menu we can supply meals.

Also Know This

• ISKCON has 600 tiffins, in one tiffin are meals for 60 children.
• ISKCON has a target of giving meals to 100,000 children.
• Currently 50,000 students receive meals.
• 383 schools in Saraikela and East Simhabhoomi are supplied.
• 21 vehicles are fitted for supplying meals.
• A total of 65 workers are employed in the kitchen.
• Machines cut and rinse vegetables, machines also wash dals.
• 41 women pick through rice or dal.
• Spices, oil and other ingredients are from branded companies.
• Work starts at 12 midnight and is delivered by 8:30 in the morning.
• 100 grams of cooked rice is prepared for children in classes 1 through 5, and 150 grams of cooked rice is prepared for children in classes 6 through 8.

Click here for original article in Hindi.