Get a Correct Picture of Akshaya Patra
BY: GADADHARA DASA
Jun 11, 2010 — DALLAS, TEXAS, USA (SUN) — Beware of politics of false propaganda against ISKCON Bangalore and Akshaya Patra. A few weeks' back there was an article in the Sampradaya Sun, "Mid-day Scheme: ISKCON Under Scanner", filled with false propaganda - such as Akshaya Patra is not authorized to collect donations in India and from outside India and ISKCON will be removed from "Mid Day Meal" Program.
A few days ago another article, "ISKCON Bangalore files Defamation Suit against DK Shivakumar" was published in the Sun.
The first article is also related to Shivakumar in the sense that last year, he advocated in state legislature investigating ISKCON Bangalore and Akshaya Patra and a committee was formed to do so.
(A) Here are few points regarding Shivakumar to keep in mind:
(1) Several years ago Shivkumar had lost to ISKCON Bangalore in bidding process for a 25 acre land or so. ISKCON Bangalore has acquired total 35 acre or 38 acre land in this area and is building housing and selling it. They already built and sold 600 units and made profit of Rs 75 crores. Plan is to make Rs 350 Crores total profit and from it develop Krishna Leela Park - another 28 acre project for which state of Karnataka has given land to ISKCON Bangalore at half price and is being developed simultaneously. All this boils blood of Shivakumar.
(2) Shivakumar belongs to Congress party and BJP is the ruling Party in Karnataka state - this is another reason he is raising issues against ISKCON and Akshaya Patra.
(3) You may or may not know this - but after ISKCON Mubai lost case last year against ISKCON Bangalore - suspicion is that ISKCON Mubai has been feeding false info to Shivakumar and agitating him just as they did to Mahsranga Prabhu last year. In process Shivakumar trespassed on ISKCON or Akshaya Patra property and made false propaganda for which he is being sued now. Read second article above.
So much for Shivakumar.
(B) NGOs like Akshaya Patra are doing favor to Central and State Governments:
As I understand it - by law it is responsibility of Central Government and State Governments to provide mid day meals to school children. If these governments and politicians were honest then they would have implemented it. But they are not honest and capable of cost effectively implementing it. Akshaya Patra Lunch cost is about Rs 5/child/day - they will not be able to do it even at Rs 10. Corruption will be rampant and children will get very poor food if at all.
Article stated that proposal is to release ISKCON from "Mid Day Meal Program" in Karnataka State - my point is that one can make any proposal - but it will cost them big money to implement it - look at the numbers:
In Karnataka, Akshaya Patra is providing in 2320 schools, which means a saving of Rs. 60,000 x 2320 schools = Rs. 13.9 crores to the government. (Article published in Sun was related to Karnataka State where more than half a million children are provided free lunch by Akshaya Patra. State saves Rs. 13.9 crores money in setting up kitchens and state also saves more than Rs 12 Lakh daily. Still these politicians think they have right to twist facts and make false propaganda.
Thus it is very clear that Akshaya Patra and other similar organizations are actually doing favor to Governments. So it is not as easy as making the statement that ISKCON will be released from "Mid Day Meal Program".
They are free to do anything. But they will have to set up kitchens, organization to run it, and pay for all the cost. Still politicians may destroy it as it is now.
I want you to keep in mind that ISKCON's role in Akshaya Patra comes into question because ISKCON is a religious organization and not because it has done anything wrong.
(C) Please read "Frequently Asked Questions" to get the correct picture that Governments do not pay full cost of "Mid Day Meal" program and thus there is need to collect donations and Akshaya Patra is authorized to collect donations in India and from other countries.
Please note the following points:
(1) The national average cost of the meal that Akshaya Patra provides is Rs.5.09 (2009-10). The national average subsidy received from the government (cash plus grain subsidy) is Rs.2.69. Hence there is a gap of Rs.2.41 to be raised by The Akshaya Patra Foundation to meet the running expenses. (Do politicians think that this gap will be filled by shower of Indian Rupees from sky? )
(2) Akshaya Patra feeds about 12 lakh children every day in the country. This means, Akshaya Patra has to raise a donation of Rs.28.88 lakhs per school working day. For this we have to raise donations from general public and corporations. (Do politicians think that this gap will be filled by shower of Indian Rupees from sky? )
(3) Akshaya Patra has legal authority to collect donations in India and from outside India. We have also been filing statements of donations raised before the National Committee. Click here to read the most recent notification of the National Committee. Also click here to view the copy of the notification.
(4) In addition, Akshaya Patra sets up centralized kitchens to cook for large number of children. And we do not get any support from the government to set up the kitchens. We raise donations from public and corporations to meet this expense also. So far, we have spent Rs.81.53 crores to set up seventeen kitchens in eight states in the country. Click here to see the detailed break-up of the Capital Expenses in setting up of the kitchen infrastructure in various locations till date.
(These irresponsible politicians and News Media will not do anything good and will not allow others to do anything good. Where would the money come to set up kitchens if Akshaya Patra is not allowed to collect donations?)
(5) Yet another benefit to the Government:
The Government spends Rs.60,000 per school to set up the kitchen infrastructure for providing meals. In the case of schools where Akshaya Patra is providing the meals, the government does not have to set up the kitchen and hence this amount is saved. In Karnataka, Akshaya Patra is providing in 2320 schools, which means a saving of Rs. 60,000 x 2320 schools = Rs. 13.9 crores to the government. (Article published in Sun was related to Karnataka State where more than half a million children are provided free lunch by Akshaya Patra. State saves Rs. 13.9 crores money in setting up kitchens and state also saves more than Rs 12 Lakh daily. Still these irresponsible politicians and News Media have guts to make false propaganda. )
(6) Gold Shied Award for Financial Reporting:
Akshaya Patra has robust accounting standards and policies, and complies with sound disclosure norms. We are audited routinely and we regularly file our accounts with the various government authorities. Click here to view our reports.
We regularly file our accounts with the various government authorities. Recognizing this, the Institute of Chartered Accounts of India conferred Gold Shield Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting for Akshaya Patra Foundation.
Read it at Akshaya Patra Receives Award from ICAI
(But irresponsible politicians and News Media don't care for anything good you do).
(D) Wealth Fever Gripping India:
Right now Indians have been gripped with wealth fever and as a result all morality is being thrown away and meat eating, intoxication, gambling, and illicit sex is becoming widespread.
Recently, 6 acre land in Bombay sold for Rs 4000 Crores (that is US $900 Million). Most of the money is gobbled up by politicians, government officers, and businessmen (honest and dishonest).
Shivakumar is a very wealthy man but since he lost to ISKCON in a bidding process to acquire 25 acre land, he has gone mad. He should be helping in such a noble cause instead of making false propaganda and creating trouble for himself and others.
On the other end are a few devotees of Krishna trying to implement Srila Prabhupada's wish that no one goes hungry around a 10 mile radius of an ISKCON Center. Let us hope for the day when organized slaughterhouses will not be allowed in India - at least for cows and bulls, and no one will go hungry around 10 mile radius of ISKCON Center.
So be careful about false propaganda.
Wishing All of You Well,
yhs - Gadadhar dasa
