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February 25, 2009 ( PowerHomeBiz ) -
Bangalore -
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.
(news continued below)
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.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation
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