Noble initiative by Samaritans

Rising up for a good cause, a group of Samaritans from Malleshwaram have paved the way for the needy.

Where the power fails, it is the people who rise. Realizing and understanding the need of the fellow beings, a team of Samaritans from Malleshwaram came together in a noble initiative to help and feed those in need. With a view to providing breakfast for the underprivileged children in rural and urban schools, the 'Praathah Aahara' programme was launched by them at Oorukunte Mittur, Mulbagal Taluk, Kolar District, Karnataka, on February 11, 2012.
Nearly 125 students were provided with 'upma' and 500 ml (bios and treated) drinking water under this initiative. "The entire concept of this programme came to us after the nutrition crisis was brought forward in the report "Naandi 2011" and the Prime Minister stated it as shameful. We thought of coming up with something which can at least bring a small change in society. One of the major things which came to our notice was that the children from rural areas and urban slums were sent to school hungry in the morning as they were provided with free mid-day meal at noon. The majority of these children suffer from fatigue and some of them even faint. It is this that causes malnutrition and hence we thought of doing something to help them," said Radhakrishna Kalawar, who leads the team.
Providing a morning tiny nutritious meal with items made of cearal--raagi, the food would be served right after assembly as a 10-minute package. This initiative titled 'Praathah Aahara' will provide raagi based 'upppittu/upma' along with 500 ml treated water, rotis, shaavige and bread/bun on subsequent Saturdays. They have also come up with this initiative after proper research as it is estimated that 100 gms of processed raagi will contain about 380 calories of carbohydrate, 11 gms protein and about 2 mg iron.  
"We started this programme as once-a-week initiative, but with proper co-operation from the school authorities, it will be implemented on all days of the current academic term. We expect the programme to be successful, spreading it to other areas with proper co-operation from the school administration and other social organisations and institutions so that we can help the poor children, who are suffering from severe malnutrition and bring a change," he added.

"The entire concept of this programme came to us after the nutrition crisis was brought forward in the report "Naandi 2011" and the Prime Minister stated it as shameful.
Radhakrishna Kalawar"

--CITYPLUS NEWS DESK