Akshaya Patra Bags EMPI-Indian Express
Indian Innovation Award for 2009-10
New Delhi, July 14, 2010: The Akshaya Patra Foundation received the distinguished Indian Express
Innovation award in the category ‘Scalable, technology driven kitchen model’ from EMPI Group of
Institutions in association with The Indian Express Group at an awards ceremony in New Delhi. The
citation that described Akshaya Patra as “a role model for the mid-day school meal programme”
was given away along with a Gold trophy by Dr. Nandan Nilekani, Chairperson, Unique
Identification Authority of India.
The objective of this award is to identify and promote innovative organizations and organizational
innovations in India who have introduced breakthrough changes in the Indian context and can
become role models for others to emulate across fields such as Business Model, Strategy and
Policy, Management of Accountability and Performance, Human Resource Management,
Communication Processes, Involvement of Community/Stakeholders, Reaching the un-reached
Population and others.
The awards programme was initiated in 2005 as the nucleus of ‘Mission Innovative India’ by the
President of India Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam. For the past two years, EMPI and Indian Express annually
recognizes organisations operating in India through these awards aimed at promoting a ‘culture of
innovation’ in India by showcasing their innovative initiatives.
While receiving the award Sri. Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation
said, “Akshaya Patra is very humbled and honored on being conferred the distinguished Innovation
Award. This recognition is considered to be the blessings of millions of children we feed through
Akshaya Patra.”
The Honourable Jury for the third EMPI-Indian Express Indian Innovation Awards comprises of
eminent personalities like Prof. M G K Menon – Chairman, Advisor, ISRO, Arun Maira - Chairman,
The Boston Consulting Group (India), Ashok Mishra - Chairman, Intellectual Ventures (India), D V
Kapur - Founder C