Arun Shanbhag ([info]arunshanbhag) wrote,
@ 2008-08-28 13:19:00
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Entry tags:konkani, kumta, lunch, shanbhag school

Lunch at the Shanbhag School


In 2007, the Shanbhag School in Kumta (and their parent, the Konkan Education Trust), started to provide lunch for all their students. In the midst of a long day, the students had previously rushed home during their lunch hour. There are also no cafeterias or restaurants near the school.

The school made a significant investment in cooking equipment and prepares a nutritious, vegetarian lunch for the ~ 850 primary and secondary school students. The lunch is simply rice, sambar or daal, a lentil curry or vegetable and pickles (see actual student plate above).

During my meetings with parents of Scholarship recipients, and listening to comments at the Parents Teachers Meeting, parents absolutely love the school lunch program. Parents are relieved of the pressure to pack a lunch every morning, or have it ready for the lunch break. Parents are also surprised (and glad) their kids actually eat the variety of vegetables and lentils the school serves. The school subsidizes the lunch and charges students Rs 80 per month (~$2 per month, Rs 4 per meal or ~ 10 cents per lunch!). Students not on the meal plan can eat occasional meals and drop cash in an unmanned donation box.

Kids seem to love the lunches too. Lunch is eaten in the company of their friends with a degree of peer-pressure to finish their plate. The lunch is done within 30 minutes, and since they still get an hour for lunch, they get to play around, gossip, or browse the library.

Knowing this, I showed up just before lunch time to "test the quality of the school lunch program." I always have interesting reasons to be present wherever free lunch is served. heeeeee! heeeee! Very delicious food and a primary reason why we included lunch as part of the scholarship package we provide needy students. Whenever you are in Kumta, you are welcome to join in for a free lunch!

See pics of Lunch at the Shanbhag School

(Post a new comment)


[info]on9thheaven
2008-08-28 06:34 pm UTC (link)
This is so cool - what you and your family is doing.

I couldn't help but notice the green pop bottle though :)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]arunshanbhag
2008-08-28 06:56 pm UTC (link)
Thank you Prachee!
This is so interesting that we are all getting sucked in. Like an addiction, now!

Yes, but the bottles don't have soda in them; Kids refill the bottles with drinking water - Notice how the labels have faded.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]surendra
2008-08-28 06:54 pm UTC (link)
Awesome Arun! And absolutely awesome work that you guys have been doing. Do let me know how I could help in any manner.

I always liked running or working in a school environment. May be one day I can get to do something different like this than my normal stuff.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]arunshanbhag
2008-08-28 07:51 pm UTC (link)
Thank you Surendra -
as I said for Prachee above - it is becoming more and more fun!
Heh - you should do something with schools or whatever in your favorite place. There is so much need and importantly, every little bit you do, goes a long way.

and thanks for the offer - talk to Aparna as we have had a long discussion, and let me know.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]inspirethoughts
2008-08-28 07:22 pm UTC (link)
Very impressive. Kudos!

Kids look so happy and so colorful...beautiful!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]arunshanbhag
2008-08-28 07:52 pm UTC (link)
Thank you Aparna - so much fun!
and great food too!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]inspirethoughts
2008-08-28 09:02 pm UTC (link)
Aah Haa...I can not imagine a food place without you! ;)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]raviks
2008-08-29 12:47 am UTC (link)
Hey..
Brilliant job !!

The food in the plate looks yum !!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]arunshanbhag
2008-08-29 05:41 am UTC (link)
Yumm certainly!
and thank you kindly!
:-)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]fluffyblanket
2008-08-29 08:10 am UTC (link)
Fabulous curry - lucky kids ! When I went to school the dinners were so utterly tasteless that I smuggled in HP brown sauce (not much flavour anyway) and was always getting told off by teachers on dinner duty .
: D

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]arunshanbhag
2008-08-29 02:48 pm UTC (link)
yes, I can imagine how the food gets pretty old after being there for a while
Ha HA! on smuggling that sauce - we used to 'bring-in' spicy pickles into the cafeteria! :-))

I hope the school can keep the kids enjoying their foods! Lets see how this is after a few years!
:-)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]sandy_tr
2008-08-29 08:18 am UTC (link)
Reminds me of my Hostel Days in Pre-University College.

Food was very nutritious, They had a guy appointed to look after the nutrition and quality of the food.

Thursday was my turn to serve the food every week...

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]arunshanbhag
2008-08-29 02:52 pm UTC (link)
a guy to look after the quality and nutrition of the food? WoW!
I guess that will have to be me on my occasional visits to the School - and I'd get to eat there all the time. :-))

And thanks for stopping by.
:-))

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]shradha
2008-09-06 08:08 am UTC (link)
had no idea about the school arun!!
just read all ur posts on it...how awesome!! really, keep up the great work!! :D looking fwd to keeping myself updated :)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]arunshanbhag
2008-09-07 11:19 pm UTC (link)
Thank you Shradha!
Yes, it is such a satisfying work, particularly to see all the kids!
For me, this was so much more important (and needed) than many of the things I could do here.

Please do read, spread the word and do your bit to help!
:-)
Hope you are all doing well in CA!
:-)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

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