Morning Nutrition Launch in Bicholim taluk, North Goa in collaboration with Geno Pharma
On 19th June 2023, Morning Nutrition programme was launched officially in Bicholim taluk in North Goa. This programme is sponsored by Geno Foundation. Each child will receive two oats’ cookies and three Nutri cookies on alternate weeks for all 6 days. Prior to this, Annapoorna Trust with Geno Foundation started morning nutrition in North Goa as a pilot launch in March 2023. In September 2022, yet another morning nutrition programme was launched for 1076 children across 65 schools in Canacona (South Goa).
The launch event was held in the presence of Ms. Pallavi Salgaonkar – Exec. Dir. Geno Foundation, and Ms. Leena Kalangutkar – Assistant District Education Inspector (ADEI) Bicholim taluk. Mr. Santosh Allath – National Manager of Annapoorna Trust, Mr. Venkateswara Rao Bandaru – Honorary Consultant of Annapoorna Trust, and Mr. R S Naik & Mr. Ashok – Annapoorna Trust volunteers, attended the event.
Ms. Leena Kalangutkar addressed the gathering in the Konkani language, which is the local dialect of Goa. She stressed the importance of nutrition, especially early in the morning, and explained that proper nutrition resulted in better development of the child in terms of health. She thanked Ms. Pallavi and Geno Foundation for having come forward to support this cause with Annapoorna Trust and wished for this intervention to spread to more such schools.
Ms. Pallavi Salgaonkar – Exec. Dir. Geno Foundation said, ‘I am very happy to interact with these children. I thank Annapoorna Trust for being our partner and for starting this nutrition intervention in North Goa.’
Mr. Santosh Allath, the National Manager of Annapoorna Trust, spoke about initiatives of morning nutrition by Annapoorna Trust in 23 states and 5 union territories. He further spoke on expansion within Goa itself, reaching out to school-going children in Canacona in South Goa, where SaiSure multi-nutrient health drink is provided. He explained that morning nutrition plays a vital role in better academic performance. A child with a filled stomach can naturally focus on the classes, thereby achieving improved academic achievements. He concluded by thanking everybody who was instrumental in starting this initiative.
It is our collective responsibility to improve the nutrition quotient of our children, who are our Nation’s most valuable asset.
