For the second year in a row, the Akshaya Patra Foundation, the world’s largest NGO run midday meal program, has been awarded the Gold Shield Award for best financial reporting in the NGO sector by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). Akshaya Patra’s vision is that no child shall be deprived of education because of hunger. The organization currently feeds 1.2 million children each day in 8,000 schools from 18 kitchens in eight states in India through the use of innovative technology.

“This award conferred by India’s most prestigious accounting body speaks volumes for the organization’s commitment to transparency and sound accounting practices,” said Madhu Sridhar, Akshaya Patra USA’s President and CEO. “We are overjoyed by the honor and recognition.”

The Gold Shield is the top award given by the ICAI and is only given to those organizations with the highest level of accounting practices. The award was given based on a review of Akshaya Patra’s accounts as well as their policies concerning full disclosure and presentation of financial statements. The organization was selected by a panel of judges for their degree of compliance with accounting standards, statutory guidelines and other relevant pronouncements.

In addition to the Gold Shield, previous awards and accolades granted to Akshaya Patra have included AmeriCares award for appreciation of nutritional standards, Tech Museum award for leveraging technology to benefit humanity, Indian Urban Space Foundation award for the best innovative project, and the Civil Society Organization award for outstanding annual Report. President Obama, in his congratulatory note to Akshaya Patra wrote, “Your example of using advanced technologies in central kitchens to reach children is an imaginative approach that has the potential to serve as a model for other countries.”

A public-private partnership, Akshaya Patra combines good management, innovative technology and smart engineering to deliver school lunch at a fraction of the cost of similar programs in other parts of the world. It costs only $31 to feed a child for an entire year, and with government subsidy, it takes just $11.50. This meal gives these children an incentive to come to school, stay in school and provides them with the necessary nutrients they need to develop their cognitive abilities to focus on learning. The organization also sources its food stocks from local markets, thereby reducing costs associated with transportation and food spoilage while supporting the local economy.

Akshaya Patra has a demonstrated impact on the children it reaches. AC Nielsen, an independent research firm, performed an impact assessment which demonstrated an increase in enrollment, especially among the female students, and better health and improved performance among all students who received school lunches. Akshaya Patra is a great example of what can be accomplished when the public sector, private sector and the civic society collaborate-- a cost effective, scalable solution with high quality service delivery. After reaching its goal of feeding one million children each school day, Akshaya Patra’s next milestone is to serve 5 million children daily by 2020.

For more information, please visit www.foodforeducation.org.

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For more information about this event please contact Madhu Sridhar at 781-438-3090, email tapf.info@akshayapatrausa.org, or visit us on the web at www.foodforeducation.org.

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