Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today dedicated the 65th Akshaya Patra Foundation’s centralized kitchen at a solemn function held at Jorhat. On this occasion besides visiting and inspecting the kitchen, the Chief Minister had lunch with the students.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma besides hailing the Akshaya Patra Foundation for providing the nutritious lunch to lakhs of students, said that he himself felt happy to have inaugurated the 65th kitchen of the foundation in Jorhat. Built at the cost of Rs. 14 crore this kitchen can serve mid day meal to 12 thousand students from 157 schools at the initial stage. Subsequently nearly 30 thousand students will be benefitted from this kitchen.
Dr. Sarma also said that State government would give Rs. 14 crore to Aksahaya Patra Foundation for construction of a kitchen in Majuli. He also announced that the Education Department would enter into a understanding for constructing nine such kitchens in nine places of the state. He also said that around 10 lakh students across the state will be brought under the nutritious mid day meal service of the foundation in the near future.
Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also said that to lend strength to the education system of the state, government has taken several initiatives. As one of the initiatives, State government to help the students of Assam to fair well in the all India medical and engineering entrance test, has decided to use English as the medium of instruction to teach Mathematics and Science. Similarly replacing Social Studies, government will introduce Geography and History in the curriculum. He also said that studying the feasibility of infrastructure including teachers, steps will be taken to introduce English as the medium of instruction along with the existing Assamese and vernacular languages in government schools.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also paid rich floral tributes to Swami Srila Prabhupada the founder of ISKCON popularly known as Hare Krishna Movement.
Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, MLA Hitendra nath Goswami along with others also spoke on the occasion. MLAs Bhabendranath Bharali, Rupjyoti Kurmi, President of Akshaya Patra Foundation Bharatsabha Dasa, President North East Akshaya Patra Foundation Janardan Dasa, Vice President of Akshaya Patra Foundation Chanchalapathi Dasa, Managing Director NRL Bhaskarjyoti Phukan, DC Jorhat Askhok Barman and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
