FSSAI and NASSCOM Foundation recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly build a technology platform for Food Donation in India. Mr Pawan Agarwal, CEO FSSAI along with Mr. Ashok Pamidi, CEO NASSCOM Foundation facilitated the signing of the MoU. The platform will facilitate those who wish to donate food to the needy as they will henceforth have access to a common help-line and a mobile application. The technology platform’s 24-hour helpline number, an interactive application and a back-end website would connect donors with surplus food, to food distribution organisations. This will enable a seamless distribution of surplus food to the needy, across the country.
Surplus food distribution platforms will be able to register on the platform and initially a network of 81 such organizations across India, known as the Indian Food Sharing Alliance (IFSA) will be able to join this platform. Though the platform has not yet been named yet it will provide an easy and accessible solution that will cater to different stakeholders like food businesses, hoteliers, caterers, individuals etc. and facilitate food donations in any part of the country with ease.
Further, two other collaborative schemes were discussed by FSSAI and the NASSCOM Foundation which included the possibility of building a technology platform together for the launch of the ‘Verified Milk Vendors Scheme’. This would address the issues of quality and safety in raw milk that is supplied directly by unorganized milk vendors to consumers. The second scheme that was discussed by CEO FSSAI was the inclusion of technology sector under the umbrella of ‘Eat Right Campus’ initiative.
CEO FSSAI, further mentioned that technology industry, today, is one of the largest private sector employers in India. Technocrats spend at least a third of their day at their workplace and consume at least one meal in their workplace canteens/cafeterias. Therefore, it is important for this sector to ensure availability of safe food and healthy diets for its employees. Eat Right Campus (ERC) certification for NASSCOM’s own headquarters is already underway and the Eat Right Campus (ERC) certification for the technology sector would certainly be an example for other industries to follow suit.
Expressing his happiness on this collaboration, Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI congratulated the NASSCOM Foundation team for the support extended by them. He said that this platform would bring recognition to the organisations involved in surplus food distribution and would help in reducing the wastage of food in the country through food donation. Mr. Ashok Pamidi, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation on his part highlighted the fact that the collaboration with FSSAI is a significant step in the direction of leveraging technology for good solutions. He also expressed his hope for more such engagements in future.
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