Zomato uses AI to check nutrition in meals for Maharashtra's schoolchildren

Zomato uses AI to check nutrition in meals for Maharashtra's schoolchildren

The device backed by smart vision, scans nutritional quality and compliance of meals as part of a pilot project in Etapalli village of Gadhchiroli district.

FPJ Web DeskUpdated: Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 06:21 PM IST
article-image
Image credit: Wikipedia (Representative)

Despite being a growing economy and a bright spot amidst a recession, India is home to almost 10 lakh acute malnourished children. It has been ranked 107th among 121 countries on the global hunger index, despite being the world's fifth largest economy. To address this pressing issue food delivery giant Zomato's NGO Feeding India is deploying AI to make sure that children get adequate nutrition from meals served at schools.

Data driven solutions

The startup's food security arm has joined hands with the Government of Maharashtra and UdyogYantra, to pilot the project at a state-run Ashram School for tribal children in a remote village of the state. The device backed by smart vision, scans nutritional quality and compliance of meals as part of a pilot project in Etapalli village of Gadhchiroli district. By monitoring BMI of the children regularly and looking for signs of malnutrition, the device has already improved quality of the food and led to enhancements in quantity as well.

Driven by data, the administration has been able to provide a malt-based supplement which can meet the nutritional demand in the aspirational district.

Plugging a systemic loophole with tech?

Following a hiatus during the pandemic, schools in Maharashtra reopened classrooms last year, but mid-day meals were affected by lack of raw materials and glitches in the procedure. The teachers' association in the state had also approached the Directorate of Primary Education with the problem, when two districts had told schools to make their own temporary arrangements.

The government had hired an agency last year to check the quality of food in midday meals. But in this year's budget, lesser funds were allocated for the meals served to children at government schools.

(To receive our E-paper on WhatsApp daily, please click here.  To receive it on Telegram, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)

RECENT STORIES

Fitch flags contagion risk for Adani group firms, cites weak governance

Fitch flags contagion risk for Adani group firms, cites weak governance

Balrampur Chini Mills extinguishes 2,37,624 shares under buyback norms

Balrampur Chini Mills extinguishes 2,37,624 shares under buyback norms

Crisil upgrades DLF's long-term rating to stable from positive

Crisil upgrades DLF's long-term rating to stable from positive

How Mobility Management is Helping MaaS Providers Shape the Future of Transportation

How Mobility Management is Helping MaaS Providers Shape the Future of Transportation

Mukesh Ambani's Reliance controls 70% stake in Sintex after receiving shares worth Rs 600 crore

Mukesh Ambani's Reliance controls 70% stake in Sintex after receiving shares worth Rs 600 crore