Governor Tours Akshaya Patra’s New Centralised Kitchen at Pilerne, Reviews Mid-Day Meal Operations

Saligao Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Tuesday visited the Akshaya Patra Foundation’s newly commissioned centralised kitchen at Pilerne Industrial Estate, Saligao, to review its operations for the PM POSHAN mid-day meal scheme.The Governor was taken through the facility’s automated cooking, cleaning, and packing lines that are designed to prepare over 50,000 hot, nutritious meals every day for government and aided school children across North Goa. Walkthrough of the Kitchen Foundation officials demonstrated the rice cauldrons, dal vessels, roti-making units, and vegetable processing lines that run on steam boilers to ensure hygienic, fuel-efficient cooking. The kitchen follows ISO-grade food safety protocols with raw material testing, RO water, and gravity-based vegetable washing. Governor Raju inspected the insulated stainless-steel vessels used for transporting meals and interacted with staff on menu planning, nutrition norms, and delivery logistics. “The scale and cleanliness are impressive. Ensuring every child gets a hot meal is foundational to education,” the Governor said

Foundation representatives said the menu is designed by nutritionists and includes rice, chapati, dal, sabzi, and fortified foods to address classroom hunger and improve attendance. The kitchen also employs over 200 local staff, including women from SHGs in food prep and packing roles.

The Governor lauded the public-private partnership model and stressed on regular third-party audits of meal quality. He urged the Foundation to explore millet-based meals and kitchen gardens in schools to complement centralised cooking. The Governor’s office said Raj Bhavan will continue monitoring mid-day meal implementation as part of its focus on child welfare and education.