The case study has been prepared by Professor David Upton and Christine Ellis, Sarah Lucas, and Amy Yamner after extensive fieldwork, personal interviews with a number of Akshaya Patra officials, school children, teachers and government officials. While HBS cases are developed as a part of the business school’s curriculum and are generally not intended to serve as endorsements, the fact remains that these case studies carry substantial weightage as they represent a clear picture of an organisation, its ability to carry out specific operations, illustrate the innovations that have been undertaken and, overall, provide examples that can be replicated. Akshaya Patra is the first NGO in India to have been selected for a case study and the team has done an excellent job in capturing the soul of the operations.

“We would like to thank HBS for choosing Akshaya Patra as a case study. We are honoured by this distinction. Above all, it is heartening to know that this case study will enable many more people across the globe to know about Akshaya Patra and its yeoman efforts to eradicate hunger and illiteracy in India,” commented Shriman Madhu Pandit Das. He added, “The HBS Case study is one more positive step in boosting our efforts to ensure that we reach out to a million children by the end of this decade. The discussions that will take place and is taking place among students and teachers at Harvard will mean that tomorrow’s corporate leaders will have a deeper knowledge of India’s needs and the activities that are being undertaken indigenously.”

Trustee Mohandas Pai revealed to the media that the foundation presently feeds secure wholesome, nutritious and hygienically cooked school meals for over 8,50,000 children across 14 locations that span six states of India. “The HBS case study provides for an interesting and inspiring read about Akshaya Patra. It is an independent report compiled by the world’s leading business school. The case study will vouch for the transparency in Akshaya Patra’s operations, the dedication of the people behind it, its innovative methods, technically advanced kitchens and its phenomenal success in a span of seven years.”

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 8,50,000 children in over 4,500 government, government aided schools and anganwadis (day care centers) in 11 locations spread over six 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 million children by 2010, perhaps earlier.

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 audited 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.