| The Akshaya Patra Foundation known for its | | | | state government has now decided to outsource the |
| inexhaustible vessels, which currently feeds 1.2 million | | | | job of preparing and serving the food. |
| children every day across 8 states and 18 locations, | | | | In a bid to give better service to patients and attend |
| is recently approached by the Gujarat Government | | | | to their basic requirement in a more focused manner, |
| to serve its nutritious food to the patients of the | | | | the government authorities are at presently thinking |
| Civil Hospital of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. | | | | of giving the job to Akshaya Patra. |
| Akshaya Patra reaches out to nearly 2.30 children in | | | | At present the food is prepared in the kitchens in the |
| 634 government schools of Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar | | | | hospital premises. However, within a week, many |
| and Vadodara. Overwhelmed by the quality of food | | | | changes are about to be effected. Right now lunch |
| served to the children in the schools, the Gujarat | | | | includes dal\kadhi, two types of vegetables, salad, |
| Govt. is going to sign the MoU with the Foundation to | | | | roti and rice, sources at the Civil Hospital said. |
| ensure that the patients get a healthy and nutritious | | | | "Many patients with special protein requirements are |
| food from the Akshaya Patra Kitchen. | | | | also given eggs," said Dr. MM Prabhakar, hospital |
| The Hospital kitchens which used to cater food to | | | | superintendent. "However, with the new changes to |
| the patients all these days will only take care of the | | | | be introduced soon, the hospital kitchen would only |
| breakfast now which will include bread, biscuits, milk, | | | | take care of the breakfast that includes providing |
| tea or coffee said Dr. MM. Prabhakar, hospital | | | | bread, biscuits, milk, tea or coffee," he said. "The |
| Superintendent. This development is also approved | | | | food that is provided at present by the hospital |
| by the State Health Department of Gandhinagar. | | | | authorities will be supplied by Akshaya Patra," he |
| They said: "We have given approval to outsource the | | | | added. |
| food for patients to Akshaya Patra. The organization | | | | Sources in the state health department at |
| was chosen because of its proven track record in | | | | Gandhinagar have confirmed the development. They |
| the Mid-Day-Meal scheme." | | | | said: "We have given approval tooutsource the food |
| Akshaya Patra is soon going to serve 1,200 patients | | | | for patients to Akshaya Patra. The organisation was |
| everyday at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital. The menu will | | | | chosen because of its proven track record in the |
| be fixed once the MoU is signed. The Foundation will | | | | Mid-Day-Meal scheme." |
| fix the menu only after consultation with the doctors | | | | He further said, "There are approximately 1500 |
| and dietitians. | | | | patients at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and on an |
| After serving nutritious and delicious food to nearly | | | | average each patient is accompanied by two |
| 2.30 lakh students in Gujarat under its Mid-Day-Meal | | | | relatives. So the food will be served to nearly 4500 |
| programme, Akshaya Patra Foundation - a nationwide | | | | people in the hospital every day. Nearly 2100 people |
| initiative of Bangalore based ISKCON (International | | | | will be served food at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital." |
| Society for Krishna Consciousness) will also be | | | | He said as of now no menu has been fixed but once |
| serving healthy and hygienic food to patients of the | | | | the MoU is signed, the new menu for the patients will |
| Civil Hospitals in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. | | | | be planned by Akshaya Patra in consultation with |
| The state government will sign a MoU with the | | | | dietitians and doctors." Jagan Mohan Das, Akshaya |
| foundation in this regard some time next week. | | | | Patra's head of operations in Gujarat could not be |
| As serious concerns were raised about the quality of | | | | contacted for his comments. |
| food being given to patients in the civil hospitals, the | | | | |