The ISKCON Food Relief Foundation of Mumbai, India was presented this month with a National Child Health Award from the first ever Lifebuoy National Child Health Symposium.

Lifebuoy, India’s leading health and hygiene soap brand from Hindustan Unilever, organized the one-day symposium in New Delhi on September 4th, which ISKCON representatives attended.

Experts and leading practitioners in the fields of hygiene, nutrition, education and child health also participated in the event, inaugurated by Ms Sujata Rao of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Hindustan Unilever CEO Mr. Nitin Paranjpe.

The symposium focused on five key factors influencing child health—Nutrition, Hygiene, Education, Physical Environment and Socio-Psychological Environment, with focus on easily implemented ways in which teachers and parents could improve child health on a sustainable basis.

On November 16th, awards were presented to various organizations for their exemplary work in these five key areas. The winners were chosen by an eminent advisory board from hundreds of entries received from across the country.

“We have chosen ISKCON Food Relief Foundation as a leading organization in the sphere of child health with an outstanding contribution in the area of Nutrition,” read a letter to the ISKCON entity announcing the award.

The letter, signed with warm regards by Mr. Sudhanshu Vats, Vice President of Hindustan Unilever Ltd, continued, “We are delighted to herewith, attach a cheque of 21,000 rupees prize money for the same.”

Mr. Vats hoped that ISKCON Food Relief Foundation, whose Midday-Meal program has been serving over 100,000 nutritious vegetarian meals per day to underprivileged children since 2004, would continue to support Lifebuoy’s endeavours in the area of health and hygiene.