CHENNAI: The Robinhood Army (RHA) is a volunteer-based organisation that works towards making food consistently available to everyone who needs it. It collects surplus food from restaurants across and distributes it to the less fortunate. It believes that food is the medium to bring everyone together. RHA wants it to be a ‘way of life’ or a normal thing for everyone and not just be seen as things good people do. To this date, they have served more than 5.9 million people, 560 kids have gone to school, with 14000+ Robins across 66 cities in 12 countries.
Neel Ghose, co-founder of RHA, was in Hyderabad on Saturday and we caught up with him. While working in Portugal, he came across an organisation called Re-food, which collects excess food from restaurants and gives it to the less fortunate. “I loved the idea, its just so simple, not rocket science and anyone can do it” he said. When he came back to India in 2014, he had discussed this idea with a few of his friends, and that’s how it all started.
Why do you call yourself an army?
There is no money involved. RHA is a lot about community and leadership. We think ourselves as an army that fights hunger. We are an army in the nicest way possible.
How’s RHA different from others?
We don’t collect donations. Whatever we have done till now, we have done it with zero donations. Restaurants have been one of the best parts. Some of them not just give excess food, but also give freshly cooked food. They have been incredibly generous.
Do you think the wastage of food has reached to its peaks?
I don’t think so. Wastage of food will always be a function of the population of people which is continuously increasing across the world. Also, it’s directly related to income levels of people, which is also increasing. Wastage will continue until people realise how powerful it is to the rest.
How will RHA obtain a wider reach?
My co-founder Arushi Batra is looking after the Asian cities. I’m actively looking into Latin America and Africa. It provides basic knowledge to children to get into government schools and embrace education for the first time and get into the habit of learning. Robinhood Academy creates systems across the world using food as a medium to bring out the best in humanity. To join us, send us a message on Facebook and our local chapter will reach out to you.