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For that one HOT MEAL
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Madhu Pandit Dasa of ISKCON and Mohandas Pai use the Akshaya Patra scheme to discuss social responsibility.
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AN IIT graduate, Madhu Pandit Dasa today heads ISKCON as its president here. ISKCON's success story of providing government and corporation school children with a hot mid-day meal at Rs. 6 for a child through The Akshaya Patra Foundation, has worked wonders on the children's minds, bodies and school attendance. The strategy to work in an area where the state had not intervened, of course, had been formulated with reinforcement from people like T.V. Mohandas Pai, CFO, Infosys.
In a sort of review of the whole programme recorded by
BHUMIKA K., two of the architects of the programme sound off on Akshaya Patra and corporate social responsibility.
Pai: Swamiji, you gave up a career on the technical side to focus on religion. What made you get into Akshaya Patra from religion and why feed children?
Dasa: Yes, I gave up my career to do religious work. But there cannot be any religious work without social work; because after all, religion is meant for the upliftment of people. So if religious organisations do not serve people, they will be distant from God. We picked children because they have longer years to contribute to themselves and world. So we create a larger impact. And the concept of anna daana has always been there.
Pai: You've used technology to deliver food across a large population and have brought in new management norms for this purpose. I think that's what makes you different. How do you foresee all these coming together? Does it offer you a good model?
Dasa: Yes, definitely. I think without bringing in these factors into our social work, it will not bring credibility to our donors. Just like in your corporate world you bring credibility in your business practices.
Pai: People always say it's the role of the government to provide education and invest in it. And civil society does not take large initiatives...
Dasa: It's true. Individuals cannot handle such problems on a large scale. It's a government responsibility to provide education to all children in country. We had foreseen that we would act as a catalyst, and pressure on the government from the people. When people see that a private NGO can do so much for children, those who create influence in society, go to leaders and ask them why they are not doing it. A lot of awakening has come about because of Akshaya Patra. Even though we feed only 50,000 children, it has created enough vibrations for the Karnataka and Andhra Governments to start similar programmes.
It's time the middle class realises it has a large stake in society. — Mohandas Pai
Pai: Has it had an impact on the education? Has the scholastic ability gone up? Have dropout rates come down?
Dasa: Definitely, there have been many examples we have studied. There were three Urdu schools where attendance picked up by 16.8 per cent within five days of starting the mid-day meal. We've surveyed six schools after one year of Akshaya Patra and the enrolment for the next year had increased by 19.8 per cent. It has been measured.
Pai: How have citizens of Bangalore responded to this programme?
Dasa: We have been inspired by the support we have got. People are looking for a genuine cause and organisation that will be accountable. Even a simple salaried man who gives Rs. 1,200 a year to support one child, all the way up to corporates... everybody has supported us. What do you think is the responsibility of the civil society?
Pai: I think it's time the middle class realises it has a large stake in society besides looking after itself. It must realise that in the last 55 years, what governments have done has given it enough benefits and prosperity.
Dasa: They should encourage more NGOs to participate in the mid-day meal scheme. They should formulate certain standards of practices and establish a training centre for which Akshaya Patra Foundation can build a training centre for NGO volunteers.
Pai: Yes, I agree. Corporate organisations too are realising they cannot expect to grow and prosper by themselves. There's a contextual environment for what they have to do. If you look at the current government's policy, they want to bring reservation in private sector. Why is this call coming in? Because a large section of population feels deprived of opportunities in the private sector. Factually, it may not be correct. Nevertheless, the corporate sector has to be sensitive to such a demand and they have to invest directly and indirectly in the social sector. Society is a stakeholder in every business. But what is your long-term target for Akshaya Patra?
Dasa: Our target is to feed 2,50,000 children everyday. And to make Bangalore district hunger-free. But looks like more things will happen. We have gone to North Karnataka. Next month we will start with 10,000 children in Hubli, and 1,000 in Mysore and Hassan. We are working a plan for the entire town of Bidar, where there are 30,000 children.
People are looking for a genuine cause and accountable organisations — Madhu Pandit Dasa
Pai: Yes, Akshaya Patra demonstrated that using technology and management, you can scale up to provide hygienic food to 50,000. This is where corporate India could step in by asking employees to participate in NGOs and give their skills. India is a country of scale. The problem in India is not money, but management and scalability.
Dasa: How can a model like Akshaya Patra work in rural areas?
Pai: In village schools, the Panchayat should be given grants to run the kitchen. Also, let's admit it. India is a religious country. There are hundereds of maths, temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras. Activate them. Corporate India is spread everywhere. There will be a factory in rural areas. Supply food from their canteens to neighbouring schools. You can cover the country. Use women. There are self-help groups in the country. A woman will never cheat. And when it comes to a child, a woman will make sacrifices, even if it is not her child. We have to tap into the power of women.
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