We Need More Initiatives Like These To Ensure India Never Sleeps Hungry Again

Over 25% of Kerala’s population is reportedly undernourished. This number, while better than that of most other states in India, is still high. In recent years, this number has improved and the proportion of undernourished people in Kerala has fallen.

This decrease in hunger is due to the collective efforts of successive state governments, NGOs, and private individuals. The credit entirely goes to these conscience-driven and responsible individuals. Individuals like Minu Pauline. Minu is a 28-year-old banker turned restaurateur who is using the concept of a “food bank” in the form of a fridge outside her restaurant to encourage community members to donate leftover food to the needy.

This refrigerator in Kochi is attached to a tree. Known as ‘Nanma Maram’ or the ‘Tree of Goodness’, this 24×7 food bank is installed outside Pappadavada, a restaurant in Kochi. The name is given because the refrigerator is installed under a Konna tree (Golden Shower/Casia Fistula). The idea is simple – to reduce food wastage in the society while also helping feed those who can not afford to buy a meal. By starting this, Minu wanted to trigger a movement across India and beyond for everyone to come together for the greater good of eliminating hunger.

Pappadavada runs the expense of the refrigerator and contributes food packets every day to the initiative. Local residents equally participate and contribute food. The only condition for this being that the food should be packed neatly and should not be stale. Minu has attached a marker to the fridge for people to write the date of packing the food. She checks this every day and ensures all the food is fresh.

So far, the initiative has received good response from the public and has fed many.

Rajnigandha Silver Pearls featured the story of Nanma Maram in their #PearlsOfIndia program.

The Logical Indian appreciates this innovative effort by Minu to provide food to those who are needy.