Aurobindo Pharma Foundation, along with Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation, perform bhoomi pooja to set up centralised kitchen at Perumallapuram

Kakinada, June 9, 2022: Aurobindo Pharma Foundation (APF), the philanthropic arm of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation (HKMCF) has performed the ground-breaking ceremony (Bhoomi Pooja) for setting up a centralized kitchen at the SEZ area in Perumallapuram, Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. Currently, the kitchen will have capacity to produce 5,000 breakfasts per day, and will be scalable, going forward. This project has an outlay of INR 9.63 crores. This will cover the construction cost of the kitchen, along with the required infrastructure/equipment and operational costs of the kitchen for a period of 4 years from now. It will have a built-up area of 5,500 sq. ft. spread across 2 acres of land donated by Kakinada SEZ. Shri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa ji, Reginol President, Shri Nishkinchana Bhaktha Dasa ji, Kakinada President, Hare Krishna Charitable Foundation, Shri Koyya Murali, Chairman, Market Committee, Tuni, Mr. Kare Sudha Srinivas, MPP U Kottapalli, Mr. Yadala Uma Revathi Rajababu, Sarpanch Perumallapuram participated in the Bhoomi Pooja ceremony.
 
To meet the genuine needs of supporting the nutritional and health needs of rural children in 38 villages of U. Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals with about 40 government schools, Aurobindo Pharma Foundation has partnered with HKMCF to implement this CSR project. The Foundation that understands the need for supporting these schools has devoted resources to provide nutritious breakfast, prepared in hygienic conditions, for the students of these schools. The centralised kitchen will be constructed in Perumallapuram village, Thondangi mandal, which will prepare and provide hot, nutritious breakfasts in all 40 government schools within a radius of 25-30 km through dedicated and modern food transportation vehicles.
 
Speaking at the Bhoomi Pooja ceremony Sri K Nithyananda Reddy, Director of Aurobindo Pharma Foundation and Managing Director & Vice Chairman, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, said, ‘Aurobindo Pharma Foundation is extremely honoured to take our collaboration with HKMCF further and organize this Bhoomi Pooja today. This is a prominent CSR project for us, since the establishment of this kitchen will benefit around 5,000 children studying in 40 government schools. By maintaining a high standard of nutrition and hygiene, this kitchen will ensure the health of these students, thereby, reducing the rate of dropouts in schools. This project will become a pride for many happy parents, as they can send their children to school without worrying about the children being starved. These children will be assured of nutritious and hygienic meals, which will go a long way in keeping them healthy. The breakfast meals are prepared keeping in perspective the nutrition requirements of the children. The breakfasts will include millets, which provides a balanced diet to the children.”
 
Adding his views, Sri P. Sarath Chandra Reddy garu, Director, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd and Director, Aurobindo Pharma Foundation, said,” This kitchen will be equipped to run solely on solar energy, the first-of-its-kind out of many kitchens previously built by HKMCF in India. This further reflects the commitment of Aurobindo Pharma Foundation towards environmental sustainability. The kitchen will have sophisticated automated equipment such as idly batter dispenser, dough kneader, sambar cauldron – double jacketed (1,200 ltrs) with auto dispensing set-up, vessel sterilization stands, etc., to maintain the highest standards of quality, hygiene and speed while preparing the meals and ensure the nutritional value remains intact. APF aims to operationalize this project from the next academic year to provide breakfast meals to all needy children in these schools.”
 
Regional President of HKM Charitable foundation, Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa ji immensly thank the Aurobindo pharma Foundation for coming forward to sponsor entire capital expediture and recurring cost for this kitchen. He said that  the Aurobindo pharma Foundation has been piller of support for HKM Charitable Foundation since 10 years. It is only by through the donors like the Aurobindo pharma Foundation, HKMCF is able to expand its charitable activities in several locations.
 
Aurobindo Pharma Foundation has previously collaborated with HKMCF to construct 3 centralised kitchens in Narsingi at Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar in Telangana and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, which are running successfully and have produced around 9.50 crore meals till date.
 
Going forward, APF will conduct baseline and impact assessment studies for this project.