Akshaya Patra Foundation: Difference between revisions

Akshaya Patra Foundation (edit)

Revision as of 23:37, 29 September 2021

3,328 bytes added , 29 September 2021

→‎Controversies

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>Billjones94

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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>
 |}
+== 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==