Bid to make Odisha hunger-free
In a bid to suppress hunger from the State, So Am I Foundation (SAI) Trust under its hunger-free Odisha initiative inaugurated Odisha's first Food Bank located at Acharya Vihar.
DCP Padmini Sahoo along with Padmashree Debiprasanna Pattnayak graced the occasion as chief guests. The basic objective of the initiative was to fight against hunger and malnutrition and control food wastage in the State by channelizing excess food from individuals, weddings, restaurants, corporate offices and reach to the people who really need it and have no means or access to food.
Speaking on the initiative, Founder of So AM I (SAI)Pinaki Mohanty said, “India stands first in hunger list globally where Odisha also continues to be one of the poorest States with 1/6th of its population deprived of sufficient food. Around 250 million Indians go to bed hungry every night in India. Keeping this in mind we at SAI have come up with an initiative ensuring no individual in the state is deprived of food.”
The process of controlling the food bank has been made systematically. One can donate the excess food from parties, etc. or at restaurants that is extra. To donate one has to make phone call to SAI and bring the excess food to the nearest located food bank. If one cannot come then the volunteer will reach and collect the food. The food is preserved in food banks in very hygienic and systematic manner.
The SAI will distribute the foods after making those hot in the SAI’s kitchen and serve to the needy people close by through its volunteers. Initially it has come up in Acharya Vihar and the next food banks are planned to be set up at Rasulgharh and Forest Park.