FSSAI partners with NASSCOM Foundation to build a technology platform for Food Donation in India

New Delhi, Dec 13, 2019: India will soon have access to a common help-line and a mobile application to donate food to the needy. FSSAI and NASSCOM Foundation signed an MoU today to jointly build a technology platform for Food Donation in India. The technology platform would have a 24-hour helpline number, an interactive application and a back-end website to connect donors with surplus food to food distribution organisations and will lead to seamless distribution of surplus food to the needy, across the country.

This platform will also facilitate registration of surplus food distribution organisations and initially, the network of 81 such organizations across PAN India, known as the Indian Food Sharing Alliance (IFSA) will be a part of this platform. Yet to be named, this much needed solution will provide an easy accessible platform that will cater to different stakeholders like food businesses, hoteliers, caterers, individuals etc. and facilitate food donations in any part of the country.

Further, NASSCOM Foundation and FSSAI also discussed the possibility of building a technology platform together for the launch of the ‘Verified Milk Vendors Scheme’ in order to address the issues of quality and safety in raw milk that is supplied directly to consumers by unorganised milk vendors.

During the meeting, CEO FSSAI also discussed the road-map for inclusion of technology sector under the umbrella of ‘Eat Right Campus’ initiative. He further mentioned that technology industry, today, is one of the largest private sector employer of diverse talent base in India. As technocrats spend at least 1/3rd of their day at their workplace and consume at least one meal in their workplace canteens/cafeterias, it is important for this sector to ensure availability of safe food and healthy diets for its employees. Eat Right Campus (ERC) certification for NASSCOM’s own headquarters is already underway and the Eat Right Campus (ERC) certification for the technology sector would certainly be an example for other industries to follow.

Expressing happiness on this collaboration, Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI congratulated the NASSCOM Foundation team for the support extended. He said that this would definitely provide a recognition to the organisations involved in surplus food distribution and would help in reducing the wastage of food in the country through food donation.

Mr. Ashok Pamidi, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation highlighted that the collaboration with FSSAI is a significant step in the direction of leveraging Tech for Good Solutions and is hopeful of more such engagements in future.