AKSHAYA PATRA’S MILESTONE OF SERVING TWO BILLION MEALS
Hon’ble Chief Minister’s Speech
27-08-2016 / 6-00 P M / ISKCON, HARE KRISHNA HILLS, BENGALURU.
Shri Pranab Mukherjee,
Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji,
Shri Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala-ji,
Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka
Shri Prakash Javadekar-ji,
Hon’ble Union Minister of Human Resources Development,
Dr Murli Manohar Joshi-ji,
Member of Parliment and Former Union Minister,
Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa,
Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation
All the digniraties on the dais and off-the dais,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. I am delighted to be here this evening to commemorate Akshaya Patra’s milestone of serving two billion meals.
2. I compliment team Akshaya Patra for this pioneering effort of starting a school meal programme inspired by the philosophy of ‘unlimited food for education.’
3. This great social initiative, which I am told is currently the largest NGO-run school meal programme, signals a new era in the cause of nation building.
4. I would like to extend my hearty congratulations to Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa and to all members of the Akshaya Patra Foundation on attaining this major milestone in its journey.
5. In the last 16 years, Akshaya Patra bears witness on how one wholesome square meal a day can give millions of children an avenue to attend school, to receive an education and above all an opportunity to a safe childhood and a better life.
6. The milestone of attaining two billion meals reflect the willingness and the effort of the Foundation to be responsive to the needs of the children and exhibit dynamic social innovation in the need to safeguard our children and address their immediate needs of food and education.
7. I am glad to know that Akshaya Patra which had started with feeding 1,500 children in five schools in Bengaluru is now reaching out to 1.5 million children daily, in 25 locations across 10 States in India.
8. Taking roots in Karnataka, in the year 2000, Akshaya Patra is now a frontrunner in the field of social innovation. Over the years, it has actively participated that can be chronicled as a great nation-building exercise to tackle the pressing issues of hunger and education for our children, our most vital asset.
9. Today, development is highly dependent upon literacy as it is an essential tool to achieve rapid and holistic social transformation. In this light, the most important contributor for the growth of literacy is the expansion of elementary education.
10. This has prompted the Karnataka State Government to introduce innovative ways in its Mid-Day Meal Programme, Akshara Dasoha, to universalize and improve enrolment and attendance rates, simultaneously ameliorating the nutritional level of children in schools.
11. I am happy to note that achievements in education in Karnataka have been quite remarkable, and the State is moving towards universal literacy at a steady pace. The literacy rate has increased from 66.64 per cent in 2001 to 75.60 per cent in 2011, with the female literacy rate increasing more swiftly than the male literacy rate. Overall, the gender disparity in literacy has also declined perceptibly and the decline is much more evident in the less economically developed districts of the State.
12. Our Government with a vison to march forward with a missionary zeal to incentivize and improve health of children in schools has fostered the innovative programme of distributing milk known as the Ksheera Bhagya Scheme under the umbrella of Akshara Dasoha. This scheme has helped Karnataka to make rapid strides in improving the health and nutritional level of its school-going children.
13. Karnataka has also topped the list in the first-ever ranking done by the Ministry of Human Resource Development on the basis of their performance and implementation of the mid-day meal programme in schools across States and Union Territories with a total score of 77.79 per cent.
14. Karnataka has also achieved considerable progress in terms of its demographic transition; a considerable decline in both fertility and mortality rates has been recorded, particularly, in the last three decades.
15. All these together have earned Karnataka the moniker of a truly equitable and progressive State and the Akshaya Patra Foundation has had a vital role to play.
16. It has not only facilitated in the emergence of this phenomena, but has also contributed to the extraordinary success of Karnataka in the field of human development by attempting to address classroom hunger, spreading literacy, inculcating a desire for attending school amongst children and for launching various social initiatives under its aegis.
17. Our Government is keen to strengthen the implementation of the mid-day meal programme in Karnataka, in partnership with the Akshaya Patra Foundation. Together we have been able to enterprise and set an example of innovation in delivery of public services through our partnership and there is no doubt that the theme of Akshaya Patra’s, ‘unlimited food for education’ is in full resonance with the philosophy of Akshara Dasoha.
18. The Government of Karnataka has always been in recognition of Akshaya Patra’s efforts leading to which, Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa was conferred upon the Rajyotsava Award in 2003.
19. We are pleased to see how Akshaya Patra has spread its wings over the years, benefitting our children with their ‘food for education’ and we wish to continue supporting Akshaya Patra in all its future endeavours.
20. As I stand here, it gives me a great sense of fulfilment, I feel pleased to see a constellation of our eminent people of Kannada, Mr Mohandas Pai, Mr Abhay Jain, Mr V. Balakrishnan and many more, who have come forward and pledged their support to this great social initiative, reflective of their will to bring about social transformation.
21. It is indeed rewarding to be surrounded by individuals who are conscientious and believe in achieving overall human development through effective participation and efficient implementation.
22. Akshaya Patra has indeed targeted a real need of our people. It has taken up the onus of feeding our children, improving their health, giving them an access to education and above all preserving their childhood.
23. On this note, I once again congratulate Akshaya Patra for attaining this milestone, and wish the organization every success in the future.
24. May you continue to serve the children of India with strength, vigour and dedication. May your efforts add laurels to the State of Karnataka and may the concerted efforts of you and the Our Government bring hopes to many more children.
Thank you one and all !