During the summer camp we started teaching our children the importance of automation in our lives and in the future of our nation. We teach certain practical robotics skills to our kids. We wanted to show how automation is used at a very practical level at a large organization. We zeroed in on Akshaya Patra foundation. The foundation mastered the techniques of cooking large quantities of food and distribute the same to a large number of schools. The cooking process itself is astonishing in its levels of automation.

We reached the Akshaya Patra foundation by 8 AM with a bus load of kids. They were all very excited to visit and learn about the work done at the foundation’s facility. We were all given shiny shoe caps and bright white coloured head caps. We were welcomed by two gentleman who greeted us and escorted boys and girls into two separate batches. Prior to getting in we were given orientation on the philosophy and work culture at the foundation.  Once we entered we witnessed gigantic cooking vessels that are operated with minimal human intervention. It is also one of the cleanest facilities.

The tour lasted over an hour. The cooking area and storage areas as well as the quality tests that are undertaken were all very keenly observed. The children asked a number of questions at each point.  After the tour we were taken to a nice cosy lunch room where we were all served delicious upma by some very friendly staff. We were than taken to a meeting room where we met Swami Namamruta Das.  He was the driving force behind our visit to the facility. He spent a lot of time talking to the kids. The kids sang a few songs and demonstrated their prowess in yogasanas. Our kids presented a thank you card to the swamiji. We took loads of pictures and left the facility with a big broad smile after a morning that was very well spent.

We went to the nearby Sri Krishna Goshala that is in operation under the aegis of of ISKCON. This goshala houses over 1400 cows. The kids were all too happy to walk through cow sheds, touching and caressing cows and their calves. They were too excited to see a day old calf. They also took plenty of pics along the way. There is also a small milk packaging facility that we visited to understand how the milk packets are produced. We had sumptuous lunch at the Goshala. 

This event was planned and executed by one of our trustees Sri Tipparaju Surendra. He is a technical leader who heads Artificial Intelligence division at Microsoft. It was very nice of him to join us with his family. With the blessings of Swami Namamruta Das the event was concluded very successfully. It was one of most memorable days for our Soham kids. 

Here are some pics from the event.