Akshaya Patra Foundation - Revision history

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CleanupBot: /* Alleged irregularities in the foundation's workings */clean up

2022-01-04T04:40:05Z

Alleged irregularities in the foundation's workings: clean up

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:10, 4 January 2022
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	A letter by Suresh Senapaty, former Wipro chief financial officer and a former member of the audit committee at Akshaya Patra Foundation, alleged in 2020, among other issues, that costs per meal are far higher than any other organisation for a similar offering.		A letter by Suresh Senapaty, former Wipro chief financial officer and a former member of the audit committee at Akshaya Patra Foundation, alleged in 2020, among other issues, that costs per meal are far higher than any other organisation for a similar offering.

	A two-member committee was formed on ~~20th~~ November 2020 to look into alleged irregularities in the foundation’s workings. The committee submitted its interim report in February 2021. The committee has sought a report from statutory auditors—[[Ernst & Young\|EY]] and [[KPMG]]—for additional details, according to the foundation. This report was expected in the month of March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=2021-02-02\|title=Interim report on Akshaya Patra submitted, more details sought from EY, KPMG\|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/interim-report-on-akshaya-patra-submitted-more-details-sought-from-ey-kpmg-101612242513062.html\|access-date=2021-09-27\|website=Hindustan Times\|language=en}}</ref>		A two-member committee was formed on 20 November 2020 to look into alleged irregularities in the foundation’s workings. The committee submitted its interim report in February 2021. The committee has sought a report from statutory auditors—[[Ernst & Young\|EY]] and [[KPMG]]—for additional details, according to the foundation. This report was expected in the month of March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=2021-02-02\|title=Interim report on Akshaya Patra submitted, more details sought from EY, KPMG\|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/interim-report-on-akshaya-patra-submitted-more-details-sought-from-ey-kpmg-101612242513062.html\|access-date=2021-09-27\|website=Hindustan Times\|language=en}}</ref>

	==See also==		==See also==

>Billjones94: /* Controversies */

2021-09-29T18:07:07Z

Controversies

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:37, 29 September 2021
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	\| method =		\| method =
	\| revenue =		\| revenue =
	*[[~~Grants~~\|Government Grants]]		*[[Grant (money)\|Government Grants]]
	*[[Donations]]		*[[Donations]]
	\| endowment =		\| endowment =
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	\|<ref>{{cite web \|title=The Food Chain Global Champion Award goes to School Meals Project in India \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/world-service-food-chain-global-champion-winner \|website=BBC World Service}}</ref>		\|<ref>{{cite web \|title=The Food Chain Global Champion Award goes to School Meals Project in India \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/world-service-food-chain-global-champion-winner \|website=BBC World Service}}</ref>
	\|}		\|}

			== Controversies ==

			=== Use of public money for faith based nutrition decisions ===
			The foundation, an initiative of the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] or ISKCON, claims a religious prerogative of "advocating a lacto-vegetarian diet, strictly avoiding meat, fish and eggs" and considers onions and garlic in food as "lower modes of nature which inhibit spiritual advancement".<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Prasad\|first=Sylvia Karpagam & Vandana\|title=ISKCON-run NGO refuses to follow Karnataka order to include onion, garlic in mid-day meals\|url=https://scroll.in/pulse/905334/no-onion-no-garlic-akshaya-patra-opposes-karnataka-government-order-on-mid-day-meals\|access-date=2021-09-27\|website=Scroll.in\|language=en-US}}</ref> For every Rs 7.40 Akshaya Patra spends per lunch per day under the mid-day meal scheme, the government provides Rs 4.38.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Are Akshaya Patra Kitchens What They are Made Out to Be?\|url=https://thewire.in/education/are-akshaya-patra-kitchens-what-they-are-made-out-to-be\|access-date=2021-09-27\|website=The Wire}}</ref> Objections have been raised on religious considerations being part of the government food security scheme in detriment to children's food and nutritional rights.

			=== Alleged irregularities in the foundation's workings ===
			Three of the independent trustees – T.V. Mohandas Pai, Raj P. Kondur, V. Balakrishnan and Abhay Jain – issued statements suggesting that the APF has serious governance issues and has also had to contend with wrongdoings and whistle-blower complaints.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Explainer: The Allegations Against Akshaya Patra, and Why a Probe Is Needed\|url=https://thewire.in/government/akshaya-patra-trustees-resignation-explainer\|access-date=2021-09-27\|website=The Wire}}</ref>

			Activists have demanded that the government constitute an impartial inquiry and said that if the charges of diversion of government resources and misuse are found to be true, criminal proceedings should be initiated against the organisation.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Reporter\|first=Staff\|date=2020-11-24\|title=Nine activists demand enquiry into Akshaya Patra\|language=en-IN\|work=The Hindu\|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/nine-activists-demand-enquiry-into-akshaya-patra/article33172138.ece\|access-date=2021-09-27\|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

			A letter by Suresh Senapaty, former Wipro chief financial officer and a former member of the audit committee at Akshaya Patra Foundation, alleged in 2020, among other issues, that costs per meal are far higher than any other organisation for a similar offering.

			A two-member committee was formed on 20th November 2020 to look into alleged irregularities in the foundation’s workings. The committee submitted its interim report in February 2021. The committee has sought a report from statutory auditors—[[Ernst & Young\|EY]] and [[KPMG]]—for additional details, according to the foundation. This report was expected in the month of March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=2021-02-02\|title=Interim report on Akshaya Patra submitted, more details sought from EY, KPMG\|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/interim-report-on-akshaya-patra-submitted-more-details-sought-from-ey-kpmg-101612242513062.html\|access-date=2021-09-27\|website=Hindustan Times\|language=en}}</ref>

	==See also==		==See also==

imported>DaxServer: /* See also */clean up

2021-07-24T14:32:43Z

See also: clean up

New page

{{Short description|Indian non-profit organization}}
{{COI|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = The Akshaya Patra Foundation
| logo = The Akshaya Patra Foundation Logo.png
| type = [[Non Profit Organisation]]
| founded_date = 2000
| location = [[Bangalore]], [[India]]<br />'''Kitchens''' - [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Gujarat]], [[Karnataka]], [[Odisha]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Telangana]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| origins =
| key_people =
| focus =
| products = [[Lunch|Mid Day Meals]]
| method =
| revenue =
*[[Grants|Government Grants]]
*[[Donations]]
| endowment =
| num_volunteers =
| num_employees =
| num_members =
| owner =
| homepage = http://www.akshayapatra.org/
https://foodforeducation.org
| footnotes =
}}

The '''Akshaya Patra Foundation''' is a [[non-profit organisation]] in [[India]] that operates a [[School feeding in low-income countries|school lunch programme]].<ref name="MiddayMeal">[[Midday Meal Scheme|Mid Day Meal Scheme]]</ref> The organisation was established in 2000. It aims to counter classroom hunger<ref name="Eliminating classroom hunger & Increase School Enrollment and Attendance">{{Cite web |url=http://ilikan.com/blog/akshaya-patra-eliminating-hunger-universalizing-primary-education/ |title=classroom hunger |access-date=24 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015010932/http://ilikan.com/blog/akshaya-patra-eliminating-hunger-universalizing-primary-education/ |archive-date=15 October 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and aid in education of children. It feeds 1,800,907 children every day across India.<ref name="Akshaya Patra feeds 1.76 million children in India">[http://www.thisweekguwahati.com/?p=23743 feeds 1.76 million children every day across India]</ref>

The food distributed by Akshaya Patra is perceived to be "hygienic, nutritious and delicious".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/schools-prefer-midday-meals-supplied-by-akshaya-patra/article1786973.ece |title=Schools prefer midday meals supplied by Akshaya Patra}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/probe-charges-against-iskcon-akshay-patra-says-house-panel/1158952/0|title=meals provided were prepared scientifically and with required nutritional value}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kannadigaworld.com/news/karnataka/39869.html |title=Government plans Saturday upgrade for midday meals}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/11-08/editorials3625.htm |title=food prepared by Akshaya Patra has been found to be the HIGHEST QUALITY FOOD and prepared in the CLEANEST environment among all midday meal providers in India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/School-Mid-Day-Meal-Low-on-Protein-Quality-Docs-NGO/2014/02/10/article2048138.ece|title=Revamp quality of mid-day meals by relooking at the nutrient intake}}</ref>

== Background ==

=== Go Green Initiative ===
The Akshaya Patra kitchens produce about 350 kilograms of [[Biodegradation|organic]] waste each day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cleanfuture.co.in/2017/08/21/akshaya-patra-transforming-organic-waste-into-clean-energy/|title=Akshaya Patra: Transforming Organic Waste into Clean Energy - Clean Future|last=Kulkarni|first=Rajesh|date=2017-08-21|website=Clean Future|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> In an effort to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, the foundation has set up [[Anaerobic digestion|biogas plants]] in some of its kitchens. This initiative started with the centralized kitchens at [[Bellary]] and [[Kumaraswamy Layout|Vasanthapura]] (Bengaluru) on [[Earth Day]] (April 22) 2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newshour.press/ngo/akshaya-patra-adopts-a-new-organic-waste-to-biogas-system/|title=Akshaya Patra adopts a new organic waste to biogas system|last=Attri|first=Ravinder|date=2016-04-28|website=Newshour Press|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> and now extends to six kitchens across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edexlive.com/people/2018/aug/14/shruti-ahujas-ahuja-green-technologies-wants-to-help-turn-your-kitchen-waste-into-biogas-3650.html|title=This Hyderabad start-up helps you turn your kitchen waste into a biogas|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> The biogas plants, with a capacity to process 1 tonne per day (TPD) of organic waste, generate 120 to 150 m<sup>3</sup> of biogas the equivalent of 30 kilograms of [[Liquefied petroleum gas|LPG]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/iict-s-waste-to-biogas-tech-draws-good-response-115062400842_1.html|title=IICT's waste-to-biogas tech draws good response|last=Madhav|first=N.|date=2015-06-24|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> This gas is consumed in the kitchen's cooking operations and saves the foundation [[Indian rupee|INR]] 38,500 per month.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newshour.press/ngo/akshaya-patra-adopts-a-new-organic-waste-to-biogas-system/|title=Akshaya Patra adopts a new organic waste to biogas system|last=Attri|first=Ravinder|date=2016-04-28|website=Newshour Press|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> This translates to savings of about 10% in total energy consumption required for cooking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cleanfuture.co.in/2017/08/21/akshaya-patra-transforming-organic-waste-into-clean-energy/|title=Akshaya Patra: Transforming Organic Waste into Clean Energy - Clean Future|last=Kulkarni|first=Rajesh|date=2017-08-21|website=Clean Future|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref>

Another green initiative of the foundation is the installation of [[Photovoltaic system|solar photovoltaic]] (PV) systems at some of its kitchens. Based on the weather these systems produce 80-100 units of electricity per day and this power's the facility's daytime energy requirement e.g. the [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]] plant generates 10 kW of power and this is entirely consumed by the facility, whereas the [[Surat]] plant generates 12 kW of power with some of the surplus power being fed back to the grid for a credit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cleanfuture.co.in/2017/08/21/akshaya-patra-transforming-organic-waste-into-clean-energy/|title=Akshaya Patra: Transforming Organic Waste into Clean Energy - Clean Future|last=Kulkarni|first=Rajesh|date=2017-08-21|website=Clean Future|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref>

The foundation is open to knowledge sharing in helping other entities achieve their environmental goals. Shridhar Venkat, CEO Akshaya Patra has gone on record to say:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cleanfuture.co.in/2017/08/21/akshaya-patra-transforming-organic-waste-into-clean-energy/|title=Akshaya Patra: Transforming Organic Waste into Clean Energy - Clean Future|last=Kulkarni|first=Rajesh|date=2017-08-21|website=Clean Future|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref><blockquote>''The blueprints and processes of our waste management and clean energy generation systems are available to whomsoever who asks for it.'' </blockquote>

===Other programmes===

Certain that the primary cause of Akshaya Patra is to actually complement the creation of Srila Prabhupada by implementation of the mid-day meal programme.<ref name="Akshaya Patra is implementation of the mid-day meal">{{Cite web |url=http://indiagovernance.gov.in/bestpractices.php?id=1350 |title=Akshaya Patra is implementation of the mid-day meal programme |access-date=24 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129100629/http://indiagovernance.gov.in/bestpractices.php?id=1350 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After the COVID-19 lockdown was announced, Akshaypatra undertook a massive food program to feed the migrant workers and any one who is in need for food. They provided cooked food as well as dry grocery kits <ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-20|title=2 crore meals served to vulnerable communities: Akshaya Patra Foundation|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/2-crore-meals-served-to-vulnerable-communities-akshaya-patra-foundation-827722.html|access-date=2020-07-12|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-28|title=Akshaya Patra undertakes relief feeding to support government’s efforts during COVID-19 outbreak|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/akshaya-patra-undertakes-relief-feeding-to-support-governments-efforts-during-covid-19-outbreak-1502871121.html|access-date=2020-07-12|website=The Statesman|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Akshaya Patra USA===
Akshaya Patra USA exceeded its fundraising goal of $3.2m for 2012 by raising $5.6m.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}} This included a generous grant of $2m by Caterpillar Foundation for building a kitchen in Uttar Pradesh, India.<ref name="Akshaya Patra USA">{{Cite web |url=https://www.foodforeducation.org/about-us/our-mission-message-president |title=The Akshaya Patra Team USA |access-date=30 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808051027/https://www.foodforeducation.org/about-us/our-mission-message-president |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Awards ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!
!Prize
!Year
!{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|1
|[[Rajyotsava Award]]
|2003
|<ref>{{cite web|title=ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಪಟ್ಟಿ 1966 ರಿಂದ – 2015 ರವರೆಗೆ|url=http://siri.kannadasiri.co.in/kannadasiri/downloads/Rajothsava_List.pdf|website=Kannada Siri|access-date=24 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
|2
|[[Nikkei Asia Prize]]
|2016
|<ref>[http://www.nikkei-events.jp/asiaprizes/en/pastwinner/index.html Nikkei Asia Prize Website]</ref>
|-
|3
|[[Gandhi Peace Prize]]
|2016
|
|-
|4
|[[National Award for Child Welfare]]
|2016
|
|-
|5
|BBC’s Global Food Champion Award
|2019
|<ref>{{cite web |title=The Food Chain Global Champion Award goes to School Meals Project in India |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/world-service-food-chain-global-champion-winner |website=BBC World Service}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{div col}}
* [[Akhara]]
* [[Ekal Vidyalaya]]
* [[Gurukula]]
* [[Malnutrition in India]]
* [[Midday Meal Scheme]]
* [[List of Indian states by child nutrition]]
* [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]]
* [[Swami Lakshamanananda]]
* [[Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram]]
* [[Vidya Bharti]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.akshayapatra.org/ The Akshaya Patra Foundation] - Official Website

{{Gandhi Peace Prize laureates}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Organizations established in 2000]]
[[Category:Educational organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Children's charities based in India]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Bangalore]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2003]]
[[Category:Winners of the Nikkei Asia Prize]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gandhi Peace Prize]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in Karnataka]]