Akshaya Patra Foundation Receives Nikkei Asia Prize 2016
The Akshaya Patra Foundation, recognised for its contributions in the field of Economic and Business Innovation, has been honoured with the Nikkei Asia Prize. Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation received the honour which includes three million yen along with a certificate by Naotoshi Okada, President, CEO of Nikkei Inc.
Headquartered in Bengaluru, The Akshaya Patra Foundation strives to fight issues like hunger and malnutrition in India. By implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Government schools and Government aided schools, The Akshaya Patra Foundation has been working round the clock to only to fight hunger but also to bring children to school.
Its state-of-the-art kitchens have become a subject of study and they attract curious visitors from around the world. It has now become the world’s largest (not-for-profit run) mid-day meal programme serving wholesome food to over 1.5 million children from 11,360 schools across 10 states in India.
The Honourable Minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Karnataka R.V. Deshpande congratulated the entire team of The Akshaya Patra Foundation on being honoured with Nikkei Asia Prize.
The Nikkei Asia Prize, an annual award, is instituted to recognise outstanding achievements contributing to sustainable development and for a better future of Asia.
Nikkei Inc., one of the largest media corporation in Japan has been presenting the awards to honour people in Asia who have made significant contributions in one of the three areas: Economic and Business Innovation, Science, Technology and Environment and Culture and Community.
Upon receiving the award, Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa stressed that people are not powerless to change this dire situation. “We can unleash the compensating force of compassion in the hearts of the rich to share their wealth, at least to meet the basic needs of humanity.
It is only by promoting and awakening this virtue of compassion, and turning into action in human society, that we can make this world more inclusive, equitable and sustainable.”
