CM to inaugurate the Akshaya Patra Program In Urdu Schools
In another major step forward the Akshaya Patra Foundation
will be providing mid-day meals to over 3000 Muslim student
in the Urdu schools of Dj Halli, beyond Frazer Town. The
chief Minister, S.M.Krishna will inaugurate this program
on April 16th .
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"Hunger knows no religion," said Madhu Pandit Dasa,
Chairman of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, who was speaking
after the annual Alshaya Patra Board meeting, "and when
the Education department asked us if we can include these schools
under the Akshaya Patra progaram, we gladly agreed."
Sheriff Foundation of India Builders has come forward
to share 25% of the expenses incurred towards feeding the
children in the Urdu schools in the next year. Further a good
number of the members of the Muslim community have assured
the Akshaya Patra Foundation that the balance 75% would also
be eventually covered.
Now Akshaya Patra program has completed it's second year
of service and touched 23,100 children in 89 schools including
the Urdu Schools.
Up to date over Rs 3.5 crores has been spent by ISKCON
towards the mid-day meal program. "All of this money
was raised from the generous donors of Bangalore," added
Madhu Pandit Dasa, "unlike the mistaken idea that
ISKCON gets it's funds from foreign sources." The next
year's budget is estimated to be Rs 4 crores.
The administrative cost component of the meal is 2%, the transportation
cost component is 11% and the actual cost of the meal is 85%.
"Many charitable instiutions have 25 to 30% administrative
overheads," said Monandas Pai, CFO, Infosys, who
is also a trustee of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, "And
this is largely because of ISKCON buffering most of the
indirect costs."
One of the Government rural schools reported an increase
in the attendance by 28% after introducing the Akshaya Patra
program recently. The average increase in the attendance is
around 17%.
Some of the schools have reported an increase in the enrollment
by as high as 100% after introducing the Akshaya Patra program.
The average increase in enrollment is about 20%.
The nutritionists have evaluated the meals provided by this
program and certified it to be in compliance with the Recommended
Dietary Allowances (RDA) for children that is about 700 Kcal
and 18 gms of protein for a mid-day meal.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation has also been acting as catalyst
towards overall school development by acting as nodal agency.
In association with the Learning Society one hundred scholarship
of Rs 5000 each have been announced to meritorious SSLC students
of Akshaya Patra schools. Infrastructure development and training
of teachers have also been taken up in these schools.
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