Srinagar, October 23, 2025: Mondelez India Foods Private Limited and Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB), in collaboration with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), today organized a Learning and Evidence Workshop under the Eat Right School initiative in Srinagar. The workshop brought together government officials, educators, food safety experts and civil society representatives to review the program’s impact and chart pathways for scaling it across more schools in the region.
An initiative of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Eat Right School program promotes safe, healthy and sustainable diets for children. In Kashmir, the initiative has been implemented by Mondelez India Foods and Bal Raksha Bharat, in partnership with DSEK and with the active support of the Departments of Health, Agriculture, Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Food Safety. So far, 35 schools in the Valley have achieved Eat Right School Certification, reflecting their strong commitment to nutrition, hygiene and food safety standards.
The workshop commenced with opening remarks from Mr. Sharif Bhat, Head – BRB, J&K and Ladakh, who emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between government, civil society and the private sector in advancing child nutrition. Mr. Anwar Malik from Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. highlighted how public–private partnerships like this one are helping drive improved child health outcomes through evidence-based interventions.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Sayed Shabbir Ahmad, Joint Director General, School Education Kashmir, underscored the transformative role of education in shaping lifelong healthy food habits among children and fostering stronger inter-departmental collaboration under the Eat Right India movement.
The day’s proceedings also included a felicitation ceremony recognizing the contributions of government departments and schools that have played a pivotal role in achieving certification milestones. Technical sessions featured insights from Dr. Jan Masood Ahmad, Chief Chemist, PHE Kashmir, and Mr. Yamin, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety Srinagar, who spoke about the need for departmental convergence to create a nutrition-sensitive school ecosystem. Students and teachers, including Ms. Aanisa Rashid and Ms. Rabia Ishaq, shared personal experiences of how the Eat Right School initiative has transformed awareness and behavior within their schools.
Sharing cross-state learnings, Mr. Mirza Tauseef, Manager – BRB, presented “Learnings & Evidence from Other States,” showcasing best practices from Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi. Ms. Asma Dhar, Manager – BRB, presented “Eat Right in Kashmir – Milestones & Scale-Up Model,” highlighting achievements including 35 certified schools and the strong inter-departmental collaboration that enabled them.
In his address, Dr G.N. Ittoo, Director General of School Education Kashmir, expressing gratitude to the Technical Assistance provided by the FSSAI and Food Safety Department for successfully achieving ER School Certifications, reiterated the transformative role of education in promoting food safety and nutrition. He felicitated key departments and officials for their contributions, stating, “FSSAI has given the mandate, but Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Bal Raksha Bharat have made it possible to reach children through meaningful partnerships. Together, they have shown what collaboration can achieve.” Dr Ittoo further expressed his vision for the region, adding, “Srinagar will soon become the first district in Kashmir to have 100% schools certified as Eat Right Schools.”
Mr. Firdous Ahmad, State Nodal Officer FDA J&K, in his deliberation praised the dedication and commitment of the partnership, in the process. He further emphasised that, the Food and Drugs Administration J&K is committed to extend handholding in terms of Registration, FoSTaC Training and Awareness to the schools, aspiring to undertake such important FSSAI initiative.
The workshop concluded with a collective commitment to further strengthen inter-departmental coordination and scale up nutrition-sensitive school systems. Participants agreed on the need to recognise the contribution of schools and departments that have successfully implemented the initiative, while adopting strategies to replicate and expand the Eat Right School model across Kashmir.
In closing, Mr. Sharif Bhat reaffirmed the continued commitment of Mondelez India Foods and Bal Raksha Bharat to work closely with government partners, educators and communities. He emphasized that ensuring safe, nutritious and sustainable diets for children must remain a shared priority, as it is essential for their health, education and overall well-being.
About Eat Right School Programme in Srinagar:
The Eat Right School program, under the Eat Right India movement, integrates nutrition education, hygiene practices, and sustainable food choices into the school environment. Implemented by Bal Raksha Bharat and supported by Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd., it aims to foster a generation that values health, sustainability and community well-being. Through the Eat Right School initiative, in the Union Territory, 35 government-run schools in Srinagar have been declared as Eat Right Schools, marking a significant milestone in promoting health, hygiene and nutrition among students. Under this initiative, a three-year MoU was signed with the Agriculture Department to strengthen the program’s sustainability. As part of the initiative 15 kitchen gardens have been developed in schools to encourage local and sustainable food practices. Water testing was conducted free of cost in all 35 schools by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department. All students were provided with health cards and regular health check-ups were facilitated by the Health Department.
A total of 35 Training of Trainers, 70 teachers, 100 cooks and 525 SMC members were trained under this initiative, reaching over 2,500 students. Kitchen audits were conducted across all 35 schools to ensure hygiene and food safety standards. The program has been a collaborative effort involving the School Education Department, Health Department, PHE, Agriculture Department and the Food Safety Department, working together to build a culture of safe, healthy and sustainable eating practices in schools.
About Mondelez India Foods Private Ltd.
Mondelez India Foods Private Limited (formerly Cadbury India Ltd.) has been present in India for 75 years. The company introduced Cadbury Dairy Milk and Bournvita in India in 1948 and since then has been a leader in the chocolate category in the country. Part of Mondelēz International, the company has iconic brands like Cadbury Dairy Milk, Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk, Cadbury Celebrations, Cadbury Bournville, Cadbury 5Star, Cadbury Perk, Cadbury Fuse, Cadbury Gems, Cadbury Bournvita, Tang, Oreo, among several others in its portfolio. Headquartered in Mumbai, the company has sales offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and manufacturing facilities at Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, in addition to a global Research & Development Technical Centre and Global Business Hub in Maharashtra and a vast distribution network across the country.
About Bal Raksha Bharat:Bal Raksha Bharat (also known as Save the Children India) is a leading NGO working for the cause of child welfare since 2004. We work to ensure every child survives, learns, and is protected. Operating across 19 states and 3 Union Territories, the organization focuses on Education, Health & Nutrition, Child Protection, Skill Development and Child-Centered Humanitarian Response. Through partnerships with governments, corporates, and communities, Bal Raksha Bharat empowers children and families and engages in meaningful dialogues for policies and programs that create lasting, positive change in their lives for a developed India.
