Released on: April 21, 2008, 1:05 am

Press Release Author: Veena D Souza,

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: The Akshaya Patra Foundation, the worlds largest school meal
programme being implemented across six states in India and covering over eight lakh
Fifty children in 4,500 schools, today announced that it has been honoured with an
case exclusive study done on its operation by none other than the prestigious
Harvard Business School, USA.

Press Release Body: The Akshaya Patra Foundation, the worlds largest school meal
programme being implemented across six states in India and covering over eight lakh
Fifty children in 4,500 schools, today announced that it has been honoured with an
case exclusive study done on its operation by none other than the prestigious
Harvard Business School, USA. Coming together to present the case study to the
media was the chairman of the foundation, Shriman Madhu Pandit Dasa,
Chairman,Trustee, Mohandas Pai, Director-HR, Infosys.

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.


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