ISTM-NGO attachment programmes were conducted in September at Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Vrindavan. The sessions covered batches consisting of Assistants, Directors and Multi-Tasking Staff from various Ministries like the Ministry of Culture, Consumer Affairs, Human Resource, Urban Development etc.

The participants visited an Akshaya Patra centralised kitchen and were given insights into to the operations processes. This was followed by a presentation on Akshaya Patra’s journey and the evolution of the Mid-Day Meal Programme. The participants were provided valuable information through sessions with an by external facilitator who explaining the structure and working of an NGO, its role in creating and promoting self-relevance and sustainability among communities and the need for NGO partnerships to implement Government schemes/programmes. All the participants enjoyed interactions with stakeholders such as the school principals and children in Government schools and came to understand more on the  Mid-Day Meal Programme.

The purpose of these training sessions has been to expose the pressing social issues and difficulties faced by various strata of the society, for which solutions may be found in the policies and schemes of the Government. The sessions aim to explore these possibilities with new recruits in the Government (Central Secretariat Service).