ISKCON’s Akshaya Patra food to be provided at govt hospitals

BENGALURU: Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday launched ISKCON’s Akshaya Patra nutritious food programme in three government hospitals starting with C V Raman General Hospital in Bengaluru. The programme will initially be implemented in KC General Hospital, Government General Hospital in Jayanagar, and CV Raman General Hospital.

Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “We declared open of a cath lab at CV Raman Hospital, and we will also open cath labs in Mangaluru and Hosakote”.

The minister announced that the government is currently providing nutritious food in three hospitals on a pilot basis and plans to expand this initiative further. Five types of nutritious food are being provided, including separate diet plans for nursing mothers, children and other patients.

The nine-month contract for the three hospitals is worth 1.45 crore and ISKCON will be responsible for providing nutritious food, maintaining cleanliness and distributing food to patients. The government plans to expand this initiative to district hospitals where ISKCON is present, including Belagavi, Ballari, Dharwad and Mysuru, as well as KR Puram Hospital.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the initiative, stating that it will be successful in providing nutritious food to patients. The government has entrusted ISKCON with the responsibility of providing food, and the organization will ensure that the food is nutritious, clean, and distributed properly, he said.

Five types of nutritious food are being distributed to four categories of patients. These include general patients, therapists, nursing mothers and children. Each category receives a specific type of nutritious food to suit their needs, with new mothers and children receiving specialized meals.

ISKCON supplies government hospitals with a nutritious food list on Monday and Tuesday. Rava upma, banana and 100 ml of coffee for breakfast, Ragi mudde, sambar and soya for lunch and tea (70 ml) with biscuits for the evening. Chapati, vegetabl curry and egg is given for dinner. On Wednesday, there will be Pongal and banana with coffee for breakfast.