From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 15: Even though the surge in the Covid infection cases in the Second Wave in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka is a matter of grave concern, the State Government is yet to discuss the issue of extension of the current State-wide lockdown restrictions enforced till May 24 morning and a final decision on extension of the lockdown will be taken by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa after consulting the members of the Covid Technical Advisory Committee and reviewing the prevailing situation, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru at a function organized by ISKCON, the Home Minister mentioned that some experts have stressed the need for extending the lockdown even though the spike in cases has started coming down in the last few days.

“We are monitoring the situation regularly,’’ he said making it clear that Karnataka has not reduced RTPCR testing.

Bommai, who is also the State’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, explained that the testing in public places like railway stations, bus stands, markets and other places where large number of people used to assemble has been stopped on account of the lockdown. Naturally, the numbers of testing has come down.

However, testing of all the primary and secondary contacts of the Covid positive cases is being done compulsorily and such persons are subjected to RTPCR tests, he said.

The Home Minister launched ISKCON sponsored Covid 19 Relief Feeding Centre at the busy KR Market area in Bengaluru and the distribution of 1000 free cooked meals daily to the police and other Covid Frontline Warriors, industrial labourers and economically disadvantaged people through the Akshaya Patra Foundation.

“Nobody should face problems of hunger and non-availability of food during the lockdown period. When we requested ISKCON authorities, they readily responded and have come forward to supply free cooked meals on a daily basis to the police and other frontline warriors and needy people,’’ he said.

Extension of programme in other parts of city

Akshaya Patra will serve 1,000 free cooked meals to Covid frontline warriors, industrial labourers and economically disadvantaged people between 12 noon and 3.00 pm every day. Over the next few days, the Foundation will start 3-4 similar feeding centres in other parts of the city.

Akshaya Patra has been undertaking food relief in several locations across the country since March 2020. With the country grappling with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation has decided to scale up its feeding efforts.

Working with the State Government and its donors, Akshaya Patra is reaching out to vulnerable populations to ensure their food and nutrition security.

Since the announcement of the state-wide lockdown in April 2021 to contain the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak, Akshaya Patra has cumulatively served over 5 lakh meals (as of 15 May) to economically disadvantaged people in Bengaluru. These include construction site workers, industrial labourers, slum dwellers, street-side vendors and individuals at old-age homes and orphanages.

On an average, about 50,000 meals are served in the city every day. Simultaneously, about 800 cooked meals are being served to the staff, attendees and frontline workers at the KC General Hospital (Malleswaram) and Victoria Government Hospital.

Over the next few days, the Foundation will scale up the initiative to serve over 5,000 meals in government hospitals across the city. Additionally, it will also be working with the Government to provide a six-course meal to 800 COVID patients at the Victoria Hospital.

Akshaya Patra is also helping the police personnel, who are tirelessly working for the safety of people during the pandemic. The organisation is providing over 3,500 cooked meals and 2,500 snacks kits daily to the police personnel as a part of its ongoing relief efforts.

Bommai appreciated Akshaya Patra Foundation’s noble program and efforts to feed 5,000 policemen every day as a part of this initiative.

Akshaya Patra’s Work

Speaking about the initiative, Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman of Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, “I want to thank Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and the Government of Karnataka for placing trust in us and enabling us to serve the people during the ongoing pandemic. I also want to express my gratitude to our corporate partners, individual donors and volunteers for proactively coming forward to support our food relief efforts across the country.”

“Akshaya Patra has always strived to work with the Government to extend all possible services to the people of our nation in difficult times. We will continue our efforts and try to reach out to as many people as possible during this crisis,” he said.

The Government has been implementing necessary relief efforts to help vulnerable populations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

On its part, Akshaya Patra is aiding the Government’s efforts through food relief. Since March last year, the Foundation has been undertaking relief feeding across the country through its kitchens and makeshift packaging centres with the support of the Government, corporate partners, individual donors and volunteers.

As of 30 April 2021, Akshaya Patra has cumulatively served over 12.4 crore meals to vulnerable populations across 19 states and one UT. These include 6.07 crore cooked meals, 10.19 lakh essential grocery kits (over 4 crore meal servings) and 10.63 lakh Happiness Kits with dry ration (over 2 crore meal servings), hygiene products and educational supplies.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a strives to address classroom hunger and malnutrition in India by implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Government and Government-aided schools, Akshaya Patra aims to fight hunger and, at the same time, bring children to school. Since 2000, Akshaya Patra has worked towards reaching out to children with wholesome food on every single school day.

The Foundation is continuously leveraging technology to cater to millions of children. Its state-of-the-art kitchens have become a subject of study and attract curious visitors from around the world. In partnership with the Government of India and various State Governments and the inestimable support of many philanthropic donors and well-wishers, Akshaya Patra has grown from humble beginnings serving just 1,500 school children across five schools to becoming the world’s largest (not-for-profit run) mid-day meal programme, serving wholesome food to over 1.8 million children from 19,039 schools across 13 states and one union territory in India.

Chickpet BJP MLA Uday Garudachar, Home Department’s Additional Chief Secretary Dr Rajneesh Goel and Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Kamal Pant were present at the function.