Sharing Food, Spreading Smiles is an initiative by Annakshetra wherein surplus leftover cooked food is collected and distributed to poor. Till date more than 1.4 Mn people have been fed from this food which at one time was going end as trash. When this trashed meal ends up in a landfill, it also contributes to carbon footprint and global warming by release of methane gas. Food waste is being recognized as one of the major growing issues and the disposal of it is controversial and Annakshetra has stepped in to take this issue heads on.

In brief the modus operandi of Annakshetra is - it is a people’s program where each citizen is an “Anna-Doot” (messenger of food). The donors are mainly restaurant owners, caterers, marriage garden owners and individuals. On receiving telephone calls from donors (the telephone number of Annakshetra support desk is fixed and shared with the environment), Annakshetra collection van goes to the celebration site to collect food. The collection is mainly at night as majority of functions take place during night and the collection calls are received immediately once the function is over. The food once collected is brought back to the storage room and is stored in refrigerators for the night. The very next morning it is then taken for distribution. Before taking for distribution, the medical experts check the food and give a report in writing. The leftover food is only distributed once it is authenticated and confirmed as FIT for consumption. The food is distributed to the people at the bottom of pyramid - laborers, waste workers, etc. Annakshetra is also committed to become a powerful voice in driving policy decisions that impact the food security of individuals and communities. It calls for surplus leftover food and feed people while reducing waste.Approximately one million persons so far have been directly benefited by this organisation’s network of 5000 donors. The number of beneficiaries is increasing exponentially as the message of work that is being performed by Annakshetra is spreading.

Annakshetra at Schools: Annakshetra has now stepped in to address the issue of the food loss at schools and started its campaign 'Tiffin Annakshetra'. Mothers pack kids’ lunches with healthy food, a significant amount (about 25 to 35%) of that food ends up in the trash. As long as children have been picky eaters, wasted food has been part of the deal. Annakshetra has installed refrigerators in various schools where school children can leave the leftover food. Awareness among children is also being spread to stop food-waste. Children are the best messengers to society; they will further spread the message to create a movement to ‘No More Food To Waste’. Annakshetra has stepped in to address the issue of the food loss at home and started its campaign 'Ghar Ghar Annakshetra'. On July 22 Annakshetra installed its first refrigerator “The Sustenance Fridge” on the side of a public street. It is fully designed and installed like an ATM. The fridge is 24X7 accessible to all residents of the locality and all houses have been apprised of this arrangement (through pamphlets, posters etc). The “Sustenance Fridge,” is a place where anyone can leave leftover food or needy persons can come, collect and take it home to eat. Residents of respective localities are now tackling food waste in a highly unconventional and creative way.

Annakshetra Foundation Trust, Center for Developed Communications, Jaipur Municipal Commissioner and Swachh Bharat Mission