Renowned chef Aditya Bal cooks for those who need food the most

By Deepak Arora

Pix By Noyanika Arora

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: Celebrity chef and TV food show host Aditya Bal is supporting the Delhi Foodbank an initiative of Aidmatrix Foundation.

Delhi Foodbank promotes a system that moves food from donors to the people who need it and engages all sectors of society in the effort through a number of feeding centres in the city. As a part of the ongoing food drives, Aditya Bal cooked at one of the feeding sites- Samarpan School.

“I travel around the world and I am fortunate enough to have too much food but there are some who go to bed hungry. This has been kicking my conscience for long so I am here to do my bit for these children who are the future of our country. I loved spending time with kids and cooking for them,” said Aditya Bal.

“We have been getting food but there is a huge gap still. Delhi Foodbank is trying to fill that gap,” Sherna Wadia, volunteer, Samarpan School.

“We are thankful to all the feeding partners for the way they help the dreams to come true. People like Aditya Bal are extremely valuable to advocate and amplify the message to help create awareness about helping those that need it the most,” Kuldip Nar, Managing Director, Aidmatrix Foundation, Asia.

Aidmatrix Foundation is also participating in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) and corporates can register with Aidmatrix Foundation to support Delhi FoodBank by running at the ADHM 2013.

Delhi FoodBank calls for private, public and NGO partners to make a much needed contribution to feeding programmes in and around the capital, and provide wholesome meals to those that need it the most.

The Food-a-Thon campaign run by Aidmatrix Foundation has attracted over 65 leading companies / institutions, which are contributing with ‘food drives’ or donations of key Indian staples including rice, wheat flour, edible oil, wheat porridge and pulses.

So far, over 70,000 individuals across 65 corporates have participated. Delhi Foodbank provides meals to 10,000 people daily in Delhi/NCR but the need is for much more.

Aidmatrix Foundation, India operates the Delhi FoodBank and is implementing a humanitarian Supply Chain logistics hub for FoodBanking. With the diverse experience through partnerships and technology deployments across four continents of FoodBanks and hunger relief programs, Aidmatrix enables more food to be connected through our hunger relief solutions.

The result is that less food is wasted, and more food makes it to organizations that serve those who need it the most.

 

The Aidmatrix Foundation builds and operates powerful technology hubs that support diverse stakeholder groups in their efforts to work together to solve the world's most challenging humanitarian crises. Our solutions enhance participation, amplify contributions, and accelerate results for humanitarian relief.

52,000+ leading corporate, nonprofit and government partners leverage solutions to mobilize $1.5 billion annually in global aid with Aidmatrix. The donated goods, money and services impact the lives of 65 million people. Aidmatrix is a registered nonprofit organization in India and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, USA, with offices in Wisconsin, Australia, France and Germany.

Saksham, Chiranjeev Bharati students mark Peace Day Celebrations

By Deepak Arora

Pix By Noyanika Arora

 

GURGAON, Oct 30: Students of Saksham Bal Vikas Sanstha (NGO) and Chiranjeev Bharati School marked ‘Peace Day celebration’ here on Wednesday.

 

Students appealed for peace in the society by doing peace march, street play and dance performance at Galleria, Gurgaon.

Saksham Bal Vikas Sanstha is a charitable organisation committed to providing education-academic and vocational, to the underprivileged children, according to Col (Retd) Ashwani Almadi.

 

Col Almadi said Saksham runs an English medium school free of cost and is now accredited with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The school currently has 200 children from KG to class X.

 

Mrs Manisha Chaturvedi said Saksham Bal Vikas Sanstha provides school with a regular school atmosphere with NCERT based text books and stationery, a nutritional mid-day meal, games with Yoga, a well stocked library and an internet enabled computer lab.

Mrs Chaturvedi said it provides vocational training to students. These include painting classes, paper bag making and stitching and tailoring.

 

Saksham offers a professional vocational Stitching and tailoring course, certified by USHA Sewing Machines.

 

The response to this project has been heart-warming and we seek to expand the segment.

 

Saksham has always encouraged children to continue education. We enroll them in main-stream schools as and when we feel the time is right for them. We are proud to say that because of this continued support, some of the students have now become professional in their own right, according to Mrs Roshan.

Saksham has altered the course of many little lives around us. Little children that ran around listlessly, now spend their time fruitfully in the company of books and good learning.

Canara Bank observes Vigilance Awareness Week

By Deepak Arora

BANGALORE, Oct 28: As per the directives of the Central Vigilance Commission, Canara Bank is observing Vigilance Awareness week from October 28 to November 2.

On this occasion, the PLEDGE was taken by all the employees of Head Office of the Bank on Monday. The Executive Directors, Mr A K Gupta and Mr P S Rawat graced the occasion.

Executive Director Mr A K Gupta administered the pledge in English and Mr R K Alreja, GM & CVO, administered the pledge in Hindi. The pledge in Kannada was administered by Mr S S Bhat,

While reading the message received from the President of India, Mr P S Rawat emphasized that pledge should be taken with all sincerity and one should practice the same in letter and spirit in all walks of life.

The CVO read out the messages received from the Prime Minister of India as well as the Central Vigilance Commission. He also thanked all the employees.

Eliminating hunger in India

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: A unique event in Delhi on Monday supported by the United Nations in India brought together a diverse group of Parliamentarians, representatives from diplomatic missions, the private sector, civil society and children to re-affirm their commitment to ending hunger and malnutrition in India.

While India is home to 18 percent of the worlds’ population, 25 percent of its people go hungry.

The global Zero Hunger campaign launched by the UN Secretary-General, Ban ki Moon provides the country an opportunity to examine approaches to reducing the instance of hunger and malnutrition in the country.

At a sit-down tea in the capital city, children from the Nine is Mine campaign, an advocacy movement led by children, along with experts drew attention to the five pillars of the global Campaign which aims to ensure – (1) 100% access to food (2) Zero stunting of children (3) Sustainable food systems (4) 100% increase in smallholder productivity (5) Zero loss of food.

Speaking at the event, Peter Kenmore, United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i. and Representative of the Food and Agricultural Organisation in India said, “India’s efforts at reducing hunger including through the National Food Security Act should be applauded.”

Through the innovative use of food, cartoons and performances, children from the NineIsMine campaign expressed their vision for a hunger-free India.

Talking about the link between malnutrition and hygiene in India, David Mcloughlin, Deputy Representative, UNICEF India said, “Almost half of all child deaths in India are due to malnutrition.

Poor sanitation and hygiene worsen the situation making children more susceptible to disease resulting in stunting. Simple solutions like ensuring proper nutrition of the mother and new-born in the first 1,000 days and washing hands with soap after defecation, before preparing and eating are important steps towards creating a world with zero stunted children under two years.”

Linking the concept of a holistic, nutritious meal with India’s tri-coloured national flag, Deepak, Ankur, Suraj and Pooja, children of Nine is Mine demanded for the right for the ‘white’ that represents rice, wheat and corn, the orange that represents lentils, curries, milk and protein, the green that represents vegetables and fruits, and the blue that represents safe drinking water.

India has more stunted children than anywhere in the world. The country’s small-holder farmers, those owning less than two hectares of farmland, comprise 78 per cent of the country’s farmers, but own only 33 per cent of the total cultivated land. Further, nearly 30 per cent of the country's fruits and vegetables perish due to lack of cold-storage facilities.

Canara Bank bags FIPS Award

NEW DELHI, Oct 25: Canara bank has won FIPS Award 2013 under DBT Category for the project "Direct Benefit Transfer LPG (DBTL) Implementation in Waynad District".

 

Mr S S Bhat, General Manager PC&FI Wing, received the Award from Union Minister of State (Revenue), Mr J D Seelam, att the FIPS Conference here on Friday. Mr T Sreekanthan, General Manager, Delhi Circle was present on the occasion.

Canara Bank in-house magazines bag ABCI awards

MUMBAI, Oct 18: Canara Bank, a leading nationalized Bank’s In-House Magazine "Shreyas" has won a silver medal under special column (English) category. Bank’s another publication "Canara Jyothi”, published by Official Language Section, HO also has won a Silver Medal under Indian Languages category in a glittering ABCI award function held here on Friday.

The awards were received by Mr K S Balachandra Rao, GM, CO Mumbai, Mrs Sulekha Mohan, AGM, HR Wing and Mr S Balasubramanian, Editor ‘Shreyas’ from Ms Olga Ring, Business Development Director – Interface, Executive Director, ARFI Russia and Ms Elena Deugina, CEO and founder, i-Consulting Moscow, visiting lecturer – Kingston Business School, London.