Morning Nutrition launch in Garshakurti village in Karim Nagar district, Telangana – 27th Oct 2022
On 27th October 2022, Morning Nutrition program was launched by the District Collector, Sri R V Karnan at ZPHS Garshakurti village in Karim Nagar district of Telangana. About 30,000 school going children across 295 schools in the region will be provided with ‘Ragi Cereals Health Drink.’
The Chief guests of the event, Sri Boinpally Vinod Kumar – Vice Chairman Planning Commission and Sri Sunke Ravishankar – MLA Choppadandi, along with District Educational Officer, Sri Ch. Janardhan Rao graced the occasion. Also present were Sri Kannam Ramesh – Karimnagar Nodal Officer who is also Annapoorna Trust co-ordinator of Karim Nagar and Sri Praveen Kumar – Headmaster of the school.
Representing Annapoorna Trust were Mr. Anand Kumar Kadali – Trustee & Secretary of the Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, along with Mr. Vooturi Srikanth – Jagtial Annapoorna co-ordinator, Sri Gannamaneni Srinivas Rao – Rajanna Sircilla District co-ordinator and Sri Meesa Ravi who is a teacher and Annapoorna Trust volunteer at Rajanna Sircilla district.
The simple and humble finger millet or Ragi is a superfood that offers a bounty of nutritional benefits encompassing all the essential macronutrients – carbohydrates, fibres, fats and proteins, along with noteworthy level of key micronutrients – vitamins and minerals. It promotes heart wellness and contains considerable quantities of vitamins C and E, to boost immune, skin and hair health. Being a good source of natural calcium, Ragi strengthens bones in growing children. It is also high on B complex vitamins thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid. Ragi malt with jaggery is said to be a good medicine in the prevention of anaemia. Easy to prepare and tasty to drink, this health mix has received positive feedback from teachers, cooks and the children. The cooks need to just mix this Ragi Cereals health mix in the boiling water along with jaggery to give the sweet taste. It is considered one of the best foods for growing children.
In the launch event, the dignitaries addressed the gathering to express their support for this program. District Collector, Sri R V Karnan eulogized the purely service-oriented activities of the Trust. Appreciating the activities of the trust, he also suggested giving cookies and other breakfast materials to avoid the monotony of providing ragi malt. Thereafter, District Educational Officer Sri Ch. Janardhan Rao reiterated that he would extend his full cooperation to this program.
Sri Ramesh Kannam, the District coordinator in Karimnagar, has been participating in the breakfast program for the last four years and wished that the benediction of Sai permeated to every nook and corner of Telangana with nutritious breakfast reaching out to the needy to remove the hidden hunger.
Telangana State Planning Commission Vice Chairman Sri Boinpally Vinod Kumar advocated the Morning Nutrition program and explained the various vitamins and minerals required for growing children is present in the ‘Ragi Cereals Health Drink’ and would be provided to the children who are the future citizens of the country, thus ensuring a healthy society. Asserting his support for this noble service, he promised further expansion. Sri Ravishankar, MLA described the plight of the parents who are not able to provide nutritious meal to their children due to their economic conditions. He appreciated Annapoorna Trust which is running the Morning Nutrition program in 23 states and 4 union territories and expressed his gratitude for having come forward in providing the wholesome nutritious food for the children.
The motto of building Bharath through free nutrition, free education, and free health care is certainly being held in high esteem.
