Also present on the occasion were Actors Imran Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan, and RJ Mallishka. From the government were present Shri Abbasaheb Jadhav and Smt. Geeta More Patil.

Outstanding academic performers from various schools were felicitated by the Chief guests present. There were some brilliant dance performances by children from various schools.

This station is heard by Ten Lakh listeners. During the rest of the day every hour there was a promo for School=Lunch campaign.

There were hoardings put at various places in the city of Mumbai for this campaign.

At a function organized on 10th Sept 2009 at Govinda’s Restaurant, Hare Krishna Land, Juhu, President Usha Rao handed over a hadsome contribution of Rs 2,00,200 (Rupees Two Lakhs and Two Hundred) to Radha Krishna Das, Managing Director of ISKCON Food Relief Foundation, in the presence of Rtn Dewat Singhal, Chairman Rotary Mid Day Meal Committee. This amount is towards the sponsorship of providing Mid Day Meals to286 underpriviliged children for one year.

Other members present at the ceremony were Ambika Dani (Secretary,IWC of Mulund), Anju Gupta (Treasurer, IWC of Mulund), Neeru Nangia (Past President, IWC of Mulund), Rtn. Shailesh Rao ( Immediate Past Secretary, Rotary club of Mulund).

President Usha Rao thanked Rtn. Ashok Nangia, Zonal Coordinator of Rotary Mid Day Meal Committee for motivating and encouraging the members of her club to achieve the target.

Generate FUND (which will be as a result of awareness created)

TARGET AUDIENCE : Corporate Executives

ACTIVITY : Corporate Contact Program

PRE EVENT : In the pre event activity posters/e mailers will be distributed in the office giving out an abstract view on the program. Two standees communicating the activity date & time were also put up at strategic locations. The time of the activity scheduled at 01.00pm to 03.00pm.

EVENT : 13 Children from Kawlemath Banganga Marathi School had special lunch at the Network 18 office cafeteria. Simple table set up put up along with the facility of credit card payment. The Promoters interacted with the employees & distributed leaflets to create awareness about the program. All necessary information regarding the program from IFRF’s registration number to list of schools under IFRF was  made accessible for the employees for impactful communication. Every contributor was given a friendship band on behalf of midday meal with “ I support midday meal project” written on it.

Generate FUND (as a result of awareness created)

TARGET AUDIENCE : Corporate Executives

ACTIVITY : Corporate Contact Program

PRE EVENT : In the pre event activity posters were distributed in the individual corporate in trade star giving out an abstract view on the program. Two standees communicating the activity date & time were also put up at strategic locations. The time of the activity was scheduled to 01.00pm to 03.00pm.

EVENT : Simple table set up was put up along with the facility of credit card payment. Khichadi was available for TG to eat to entrust the quality & taste of the meal provided to school children. The Promoters interacted with the TG & distributed leaflets to create awareness about the program. All necessary information regarding the program from IFRF’s registration number to list of schools under IFRF was made accessible for the TG for impactful communication. Every contributor was given afriendship band on behalf of midday meal with “ I support midday meal project” written on it.

RESULT : Total contribution generated: Rs.25, 000/- (credit card + cash)

More contribution expected in following days through IVR payment mode (022-26814366, 40366866).

One step of the ladder that has taken us closure to our mission is the launch of our 5th Unit that is a new Midday Meal Kitchen in Maharashtra at none other than the Hare Krishna Land Juhu.

Most of the times the parking space of the Juhu temple is taken up a number of cars that belong to the devotees of the ISKCON temple but on 23rd March, the parking space was occupied with 40 vans that belong to the ISKCON Food Relief Foundation that delivers the Midday Meals to the schools. These 40 vans all dressed uniformly in white and red are responsible for delivering khichadi to the school children everyday on time; fresh and hot.  

Needless to say this would not have been possible without the inspiration and support from all our sponsors, people who believe in our project. To show them how far their support has taken us and to personally thank them, we had organised a festive event on Sunday 23rd March 2008.

The evening took off with Mr. Deshbandu Gupta, chairman of Sri Sri Rasbihari Committee, welcoming all the guests and giving a brief introduction of the Midday Meal Project. He then invited H. G. Radha Krishna Das on the dais to give the guests in the auditorium an insight on how everyone’s contribution has made this project a grand success so far.

H G Radha Krishna Das put up a magnificent presentation which started off with clipping’s of the kitchen where the mid day meal is prepared. It is common knowledge that all the kitchens of the Mid Day Meal are very clean and measure up to the best International GMP requirements and standards but seeing it in actual was a different feeling all together. One of the principals who had earlier visited the kitchen stated that it was cleaner than her kitchen at home. It is indeed, rare, to find a woman praising someone else’s kitchen.

But that is the special quality of the ISKCON Kitchen that leaves all its visitors enthralled. The presentation documented a few teachers who swore to the fact that the packets of khichadi when opened had such a beautiful aroma such that the children wished that there was school everyday, including Sunday’s. The teachers said that attendance has shown a marked improvement and one can no longer see any undernourished child in the schools where the khichadi is being served.

The chief guest for the evening was none other than Mr. Sajjan Jindal and his wife Mrs. Sangetta Jindal. Mr. Sajjan Jindal is the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of JSW Steel Limited. Born on December 05, 1959 in Kolkata, he completed his graduation from Bangalore University in 1982 and joined the Jindal organization. In 1983 he moved to Mumbai to look after the western region operations of O. P. Jindal Group.

Today JSW Steel Ltd is a fully integrated steel plant having units across Karnataka and Maharashtra producing from pellets to colour coated steel and has a turnover of $3.7 billion. JSW Steel has given the ISKCON project tremendous support and has very graciously sponsored our Palghar schools in Mumbai. Mr. Sajjan Jindal holds membership of various national committees and boards of academic, research, civil, professional and corporate institutions. To mention a few he is the President elect of ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) a premiere body of chamber of commerce in India. ASSOCHAM represents the interests of trade and commerce in India.

He is also a member of Board of Directors of Indian Institute of Management, Indore and has been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the manufacturing category. Mr. Jindal is a young and dynamic entrepreneur who believes that India is a global destination for industry and trade. He is a strong supporter of team building and core competence. He believes that the key to success for any entrepreneur is to change his business model ahead of time.

As a token of appreciation Mr. Sajjan Jimdal and his wife were given mementoes by H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj and along with H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj, H.G. Devakinandan Prabhu, Sri Kailash Biyani, H.H Brajhari Prabhu, H.H. Surdas Prabhu, H.H Kapildev Prabhu proceeded to light the lamp thereby initiating the Juhu Midday Meal Project.

Mr. and Mrs. Jindal were then requested to speak a few words about the project. Both of them were unanimous about the fact that it is very crucial to have many more projects of this kind, especially in the villages. They have had many personal visits to the rural sectors and feel that it is most important to help feed the children of those areas also, as the conditions are very serious and they need all the help possible.

Sharing their opinion H.G. Devakinandan Prabhu also stressed on the importance of the success of the Midday Meal project. He was followed by H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj and H. H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj both giving a very inspiring speech on humanity and compassion.

Rotarian Bhansi Dhorandhar, Incoming District Governor of the Rotary Club Mumbai shared his experiences with the ISKCON Midday Meal Project after which Mr. Kailash Biyani, Coordinator of the Midday Meal Project; Juhu Committee delivered the vote of thanks and directed everyone to join him for a scrumptious meal prepared by the Govinda restaurant.

The evening came to end with the blessings of H. H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj who made it a point to visit every table in the restaurant so as to meet every in person.

The response from everyone was overwhelming and they all appreciated the activities of the project.