Annapoorna Trust’s meeting with Govt officials of Mizoram

Annapoorna Trust secretary’s meet with Mizoram Governor & Chief Minister, 2021

2021 was a memorable year when Annapoorna Trust started to expand its horizons towards North East India in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. It represents the true spirit of our sub-continent with its diverse ethnic tribes, languages and unique indigenous culture. Most of the region comprises of hilly terrain interspersed with beautiful unexplored valleys and plains.

On 18-Feb-2021, Mr. Anand Kadali – Trustee & Secretary & Ms. Soumya representing Annapoorna Trust met Honourable Chief Minister of Mizoram, Sri Zoramthanga and Prof Mawia – MLA of Mizoram along with Prof Sambashiva Rao. Anand briefed the Chief Minister, the importance of nutrition in growing children and how daily morning nutrition can make a difference in the growth and development of the child. He briefed upon how SaiSure multi nutrient supplement would aid in improving immunity, enhanced cognition, optimized weight gain, increase in bone mass & ensuring healthy blood count. The Chief Minister was keen on launching the pilot project of SaiSure in schools from the upcoming academic year hoping the COVID pandemic would be reduced by then.

Subsequently upon directions from the CM, in the meeting with Dr R Lalthangliana, who handles both Health Ministry and Higher Education, Anand and Soumya briefed about the various variants available in SaiSure for toddlers, infants, children and pregnant women, and also the nutritional value of each product. Dr R Lalthangliana also conveyed to meet Primary Education Minister to discuss on the SaiSure project launch among school-going children between the ages 6 and 14.

The minister on listening from the team about the work that Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals do, he was keen about several needy children getting benefited from it. So, a formal letter from Sanjeevani for a tie-up with respect to sending congenital heart disease (CHD) children from Mizoram was initiated on 19-Feb-2021.

On the same day, the team met Hon’ble Governor Mr. P S Sreedharan Pillai at their residence. He was happy with the work the Trust has been doing over the years. He stressed upon the fact that, to try to understand the local demography, religious sensitivities & take local Christian leaders into confidence in the state of Mizoram before the implementation of the program. That would ensure longer sustainability of the program benefiting one and all.

On 19-Feb-2021, Annapoorna Trust team met the Education Secretary, Ms Esther Lalruatkimi, IRS. She went into the specifics for smooth implementation of Annapoorna Morning Nutrition program. She said May 2021 would be ideal to launch the pilot program for 1000 children. Esther helped the team in connecting with various departments and also for a smooth roll out. She also told that the mid-day meal cooks could pitch in for SaiSure preparation with milk at respective government schools.

On the final leg, met the health superintendent Dr Lalhmuchhuaka along with HoD of paediatrics & the paediatric cardiologist of Civil hospital of Mizoram. They were looking forward with continued association with Sanjeevani hospitals and also explored possibilities to train their doctors, nursing & technical staff.

Meeting with State Education Secretary – Mizoram, 2022

On April-13-2022, Mr. Anand K Kadali, Secretary and Trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust met Dr Lalzirmawia Chhangte, Secretary, School Education Department, Mizoram to explore the start of SaiSure Morning Nutrition program in the state.

The Trust representatives had met the Governor and Chief Minister of Mizoram, and also ministers of Health and Education about a year back during Feb 2021 for initial discussions to start the Morning Nutrition. Permission was granted to get the morning nutrition started in Government schools in the state of Mizoram. Now post COVID pandemic, with normalcy gradually returning and schools being opened, formal discussion has been re-initiated.

In the meeting, the discussion was about the planning of logistics and selection of schools for SaiSure Morning Nutrition program. The School Education Department will come back shortly with the list of schools and number of children, where it can be started as pilot program. The department has also agreed for case studies to understand the impact SaiSure multi-nutrient health supplement has on the height, weight & health parameters of the children. This would aid them to get the program spread across other remote areas & remaining districts in the state.