From wood stoves to net-zero emissions: Kadapa’s centralised smart kitchens are revolutionising school meals

Tirupati: In the heart of Andhra Pradesh, a quiet, solar-powered transformation is reshaping the image of govt school kitchens. Gone are soot-stained walls and smoke-filled rooms; in their place is a high-tech ecosystem driven by automation and real-time data.The Kadapa smart central kitchen has emerged as a model of reform, earning national recognition from NITI Aayog and the prestigious SKOCH award for redefining social welfare in state-run schools.The initiative traces its origins to a moment of empathy during a parents-teachers meeting attended by deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan at a municipal high school in Kadapa in 2024. Sitting with students for a midday meal, Kalyan witnessed the harsh conditions of traditional wood-fired cooking. Moved by the sight of cooks working in smoke-filled kitchens, he envisioned a cleaner, modern system for school meals. He contributed ₹10 lakh from his personal funds and urged district collector Dr Sreedhar Cherukuri to come up with a solution. This led to a swift transition from traditional kitchens to a centralised, technology-driven cooking hub.Engineering the Smart RevolutionThe Smart Central Kitchen is designed as a sustainable, automated system. Each unit, set up at mandal centres at a cost of about ₹68 lakh, has been funded through a mix of NITI Aayog grants, District Mineral Foundation funds, and CSR contributions, totalling ₹24 crore.Each kitchen operates on solar power (10 kW capacity), eliminating electricity costs. Bio-digester units convert organic waste into methane gas for cooking, with slurry supplied to farmers as fertiliser. The facilities feature automated cooking systems, mechanised vegetable cutters and hygienic storage, ensuring minimal human handling and high safety standards. A fleet of nearly 90 electric vehicles delivers meals to schools, maintaining a zero-carbon footprint.Collector Cherukuri said the system is backed by a robust digital platform. Student attendance is synced in real time to determine food quantity, reducing wastage. GPS-enabled delivery ensures timely supply of hot, nutritious meals for lunch. To maintain accountability, officials conduct daily feedback calls to around 600 parents. This has resulted in a sharp rise in meal consumption —from 60% earlier to 97% today.Empowering Women, Improving NutritionThe kitchens are run by women self-help groups (SHGs), trained at the National Institute of Nutrition and home science colleges. The menu has been upgraded to include fortified rice, ragi java, jaggery pongal, eggs, and peanut chikkis, moving beyond basic meals.Recognition and ExpansionThe project received a gold award at the 106th SKOCH Summit, with NITI Aayog calling it a “blueprint for the nation”. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has appointed Cherukuri as state mentor to help replicate the model, while HRD minister Nara Lokesh has set a target to establish 38 such kitchens across the district.Students and teachers have welcomed the change, with one saying the meals now rival home-cooked food. Teachers noted that midday meals have become a highlight, boosting participation.A Model for the FutureBy combining renewable energy, automation and community involvement, the Kadapa Smart Kitchen demonstrates how govt schools can deliver high-quality services. As the model expands, it promises better nutrition and improved learning outcomes for students.