Embassy presents Rs 30 lakh for purchase of kitchen machinery.
In recognition of the yeoman work that the Akshaya Patra Foundation, the world’s largest Ngo – Run school meal programme being implemented across seven states in India and covering about ten lakh children in over 5,700 schools, and to aid it in its humanitarian work, the government of Japan has come forward to do its bit for the hungry children of India. Mr Masashi Mizukami, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in India, today presented cheque worth around Rs 30 lakhs to Mr Sridhar Venkat, Executive Director, Akshaya Patra under the scheme “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects”. The Grant will be utilised for the purchase of 3 Chhapati making machines. www.akshayapatra.org
Commenting on the addition of another major sponsor to its growing list of stakeholders, Shri Madhu Pandita Das, Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation said, “To continue to feed around 1 million children everyday, the foundation is very much dependent upon participation in a big way from various sectors. We are very grateful to Japan Government for having been magnanimous in lending a hand to our efforts,”
“We are happy to support Akshaya Patra which is doing noble work for the welfare of the state and the people. Ours is a small gesture which we hope will prompt many others to do the same. It is important for the world to fight illiteracy and hunger,” said Mr . Masashi Mizukami , Embassy of Japan in India.
ABOUT THE AKSHAYA PATRA FOUNDATION
The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a non-profit, Bangalore-based secular trust, evolved the free meal program in schools in the year 2000. What started as a pilot project in five schools in Bangalore, feeding 1,500 children, has now grown into a mammoth endeavor covering over 9,83,000 children in over 5,700 government, government aided schools and anganwadis (day care centers) in 17 locations spread across seven states in India, day after day. This is amongst the largest school meal NGO run program in the world. The foundation expects to reach a magical figure of five million children by 2020.
Six days a week, without a stop, the foundation provides unlimited, nutritious, hygienically cooked noon meals in government schools and government-run day-care centres (anganwadis), Ushering in a technology-intensive operating model that ensures high-quality, hygienic food on the one hand and increases internal efficiencies on the other, the program has brought about policy changes at the state government levels and created a new image for mid-day meals in India. Akshaya Patra is an eloquent demonstration of public private partnership as it is run with part subsidies from the government, besides financial support from corporates and individual philanthropists. The daily expenses: around Rs 35 Lakh!
The program is independently governed by a Board of Trustees, an Advisory Panel consisting of professionals from the corporate world & bureaucracy, dedicated employees and a team of volunteers. The program is advised in rigorous accounting standards and services by KPMG to ensure transparency and accountability to all its donors. A study in the year 2006 by AC Nielsen Org Marg, has vouchsafed for the efficacy of the program in increasing attendance in schools, improving nutritional status of these children, enhancing their learning abilities and reducing drop out rates. The foundation’s work has been praised by all quarters and a recent feather in its cap has been the study conducted by Harvard Business School.
All contributions to The Akshaya Patra Foundation are eligible for 100% tax deduction under section 35AC/80GGA (bb) of the Income Tax Act 1961 in India.