3 October 2021|Dehradun: Aasraa Trust inaugurates a Centralized Kitchen under its ‘Food for Thought’ initiative on 2 October 2021 in Araghar, Dehradun in an effort to feed the underprivileged children in its care. The newly constructed Centralized Kitchen will feed over 1, 600 underserved children every day; serving them fresh, hygienic and well-balanced meals. “We need to bring out of school children into education. We need to feed their minds, their imagination and their curiosity; but first, we need to feed them. No child can study on an empty stomach. This is Food for Thought”, says Shaila Brijnath, Chairperson Aasraa Trust.

Aasraa Trust has collaborated with the Education Department of Uttarakhand for this project. Lal Family Foundation and Kilachand Family have supported the construction of the Centralized Kitchen along with a Multipurpose Hall in the same complex. PwC India Foundation has donated towards the equipment for the Centralized Kitchen to facilitate easy and increased production of quality nutritious food for the children. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Banshidhar Tiwari, Director General- Education and Sanjeev Krishan, Chairman-PwC India as chief guest and guest of honour respectively. Several officials from the Education Department and senior leadership from PwC India Foundation including Jaivir Singh, Vice Chairman were also present at the event.

Nutrition has been a crucial element of intervention in all of Aasraa’s 43 projects spread across the Dehradun city. The Centralized Kitchen is aimed at ensuring, improved health, regular attendance and thus, efficient learning in classrooms.

With around 4000 street and slum children already under its umbrella, Aasraa Trust aims to reach more children and bring them into the education fold through this initiative. Centralized Kitchen is a major milestone in its 13-year journey of providing holistic care to underserved children through education, healthcare, shelter homes and vocational training.