Mid-day Scheme: ISKCON Under Scanner

BY: STAFF CORRESPONDENT

May 21, 2010 — BENGALURU, INDIA (DECCAN CHRONICLE) — The recent findings of the Joint House Committee of Karnataka Legislature constituted to look into the alleged irregularities by the Akshaya Patra Foundation (ISKCON) in running the mid-day meal scheme in Karnataka, has put ISKCON back on the radar. High level sources have told Deccan Chronicle that the committee is all set to propose to the government that it relieves ISKCON from the mid-day meal programme, subsequent to its findings.

The Joint House Committee constituted by the government to look into the alleged irregularities under Akshaya Patra is said to shortly submit its report and recommendations to the government. The ten member Committee is headed by BJP MLA Yogish Bhat.

In response to the questions raised by the Committee, the Law and Education departments have categorically stated that ISKCON has flouted both Central and the State norms, by raising donations for the mid-day meal scheme; and venturing into commercial and real estate business activities – the documents for which are available with Deccan Chronicle.

Former commissioner for public instruction B.A. Harish Gowda has replied to the House Committee stating that the state government had at no point granted permission to ISKCON to collect donations for the mid day meal scheme. "The government is not aware of ISKCON, Bengaluru [Bangalore], collecting donations from public and foreign countries. There is no provision for ISKCON to collect donations under the law of the state government. The government has at no point granted permission to collect donations under this scheme," writes Mr Gowda, in response to the queries raised by House Committee just before he was transferred as commissioner, food and civil supplies department.

"The mid day meal policy does not allow NGO's affiliated with the scheme to raise funds or donations on behalf of the mid day meal project. Irrespective of this fact, ISKCON has been collecting donations in India and abroad, which goes against the laws of both the Central and State governments," said a senior official.

Further, the Law, Justice and Human Rights department in its reply submitted to the Committee on February 11, 2010 has opined that ISKCON is a religious and charitable trust, and that it cannot enter into real estate businesses. The department investigated the 9 trusts run by ISKCON.