News from 2019 that prove food can make the world a better place

The year is about to end and while we are gearing up for the delicious moments to celebrate the New year, we decided to take you back through the journey of 2019, that saw some remarkable food news, where people made an effort for the betterment of the environment and humankind. This piece of information is a tribute to all those who showed how food can change lives and make the world so much better.

Tirupati Lord Venkateshwara temple this year joined hands to follow eco-friendly packaging practices and started distributing laddoo prasadam in jute bags, rather than plastic bags. This was taken in view of the worsening climatic conditions that is affecting soil, water and air altogether. If reports are to be believed, the temple trust Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has joined hands with Aditya Birla Group Company and Jute Corporation of India (JCI) to handle the pilot project, where they will distribute laddoo prasadam in 100% recyclable aluminium foil laminated jute bags.

This year, Indraprastha Vidyalaya, in Uppinangady, about 60 kilometres from Mangaluru, introduced a special bell that rings thrice a day and is to encourage students to drink water. It's an initiative called 'Water Bell Initiative’, which aims at encouraging students to drink a lot of water during the day to stay hydrated and fit. According to media reports, the need for the trend came in the scene only after a school meeting that highlighted the health issues of school students that included urinary infection and kidney stones.

It was an ad campaign dedicated to Indian women that urges them to invest in iron-rich diet and take care of their health. It started trending when Bollywood actress Vidya Balan posted a photo with a plateful of dates on Instagram. After Vidya Balan posted in support of the campaign, other actresses including Dia Mirza, Soha Ali Khan and Mandira Bedi posted their images with iron-rich foods on Instagram to raise awareness. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) report, anaemia is widespread in India with 53.2% of non-pregnant women and 50.4% of pregnant women suffering from it. (Image: Instagram/@project_streedhan)

M Kamalathal aka 'paatima' (grandmother) who hails from Vadivelampalayam, Coimbatore and became the latest buzz of social media, after Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group tweeted about her. The 82-year-old is known for making idlis with hands, on firewood that she has been selling for Re. 1 for the last 30 years. Anand Mahinda saw a video about her and tweeted to help her with a free LPG connection. Going further Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gases Dharmendra Pradhan, wrote in a tweet, “Salute the spirit and commitment of Kamalathal. Glad to have helped her through local OMC officers in getting LPG connection.”

Vijayan and Mohana Vijayan are in their 70s and have been running a tea shop called Sree Balaji Coffee House in Kochi to live their dream of travelling the world together. The couple has been married for the last 45 years and Vijayan started selling tea since 1963 because he wanted to earn enough to travel the world. Till date, they have travelled to 23 countries and have realised they love Singapore, Switzerland and New York.

The Municipal Corporation of Chhattisgarh came forward to control hunger and save the planet earth as well. They introduced India’s first Garbage Cafe in Ambikapur, which allows a full meal in return of plastic waste. Here, the garbage pickers and poor people, who can’t afford to have a proper meal, can bring plastic waste to get a meal in return. The cafe is also providing homes to the rag pickers and garbage collectors of Ambikapur.

Sushil, a senior section engineer in Indian Railway posted at New Delhi uses his salary to educate and feed the slum children of his area. It started in 2013 with Nirmaan Coaching Sanstha, where he provides free coaching counselling. At present, he provides a one-time meal for 243 children so that they do not skip classes. He also arranges classes according to their situation - from morning to evening till 9 pm so that they can get education while working.