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Akshaya Patra’s flair for innovation helped it scale up, with the Foundation feeding over 6.2 What we can learn from others
1.6 million children across 12 states today. While that’s a huge number, it accounts for less
than two percent of the total number of children covered by the Mid-Day Meals Scheme. Programme-Parent Synergy
The fact makes evident a strong need to reach out to more children consistently. Objective: Boost awareness among parents
Inspiration - Act Locally by CRY
1
Fuelled by the flair to innovate, Akshaya Patra partnered with Innovation Alchemy
to develop the ‘hub and spoke’ model. Based on the ‘20 km delivery rule’, the model
encompasses a centralised unit, which acts as the hub, and has smaller units or spokes
acting as satellite kitchens. Food is processed at the hub, while the final preparation,
packaging, and delivery are undertaken by the smaller satellite kitchens.

The model is expected to double the capacity of a centralised kitchen while reducing
the average capital cost. This, in turn, will help Akshaya Patra scale and reach a larger
number of school children by enhancing its reach across rural India. Furthermore, it will
significantly reduce the cost of delivery and even provide more employment opportunities ‘Act Locally’ is CRY’s anti-child labour campaign designed to create awareness among
for the locals. parents about their children’s education. The organisation does it through its network of
volunteers called Public Action Groups (PAG), who work towards addressing the root causes
that affect the basic rights of children. The initiative doesn’t just help CRY identify and
The hub and spoke The concept has a The implementation of eliminate problems, but also encourages people to be a part of this movement.
model is based on the hub where the food is hub and spoke model
‘20 km delivery rule.’ processed and spokes, doubles the capacity of How we can do it
which are satellite centralised kitchen and Beneficiaries’ parents are among our crucial stakeholders, and therefore, bringing them into
kitchens where the final reduces the capital cost. the fold by making them aware of the Mid-Day Meal Programme will give the initiative a
preparation, packaging, personal touch. This can be done by organising events/campaigns exclusively for parents.
and delivery are
undertaken. It can be a biannual event where parents and community representatives gather to be a part

of TAPF’s awareness programme. This will not just help engage them in our work, but will
also create awareness about mid-day meals served to their children. Such initiatives will also
increase parents’ and public’s support for the programme.

Source:
1. https://www.cry.org/volunteer-with-cry/act-locally

References:
http://innovationalchemy.com/portfolio/the-akshaya-patra-foundation-tapf/
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/why_indian_nonprofits_are_experts_at_scaling_up

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