“To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.”- Douglas Adams

Money is a fundamental need for the better functioning of the community. For the proper implementation of any social development programme, the source of funding should go undisturbed. Donations play a pivotal role in this aspect. More than that, as Douglas Adams says, the real essence of service extends beyond monetary measures. It hinges on sincerity and integrity in our actions towards aiding those in need. Hence, every contribution should stem from an authentic concern for others, ensuring our wholehearted involvement in our actions.

Why should we donate to charity?

Donations to charity play a significant role in improving society. They address societal challenges and serve as a catalyst for the overall betterment of communities. Various NGOs focus on different causes like hunger relief, education, women empowerment, environment conservation, etc. They work closely with communities and come up with various initiatives that are more relevant and impactful. Through collaboration with the government, they advocate for new policies to find solutions to societal problems.

How do donations result in tax exemption?

Supporting NGOs not only aids in societal progress but also offers tax benefits under Section 80G of the Income Tax (IT) Act. Through this, individuals can actively participate in different social activities, ultimately contributing to the nation’s development and thus fostering a sense of fulfilment and purpose in their lives. However, to receive this benefit, it is essential to verify that organisation qualifies for deduction under Section 80G. To claim the deduction, the taxpayer should obtain a receipt that contains the name, address and PAN number of the institution. This receipt validates the donation for tax exemption purposes. All donations of ₹500 or above are qualified for 50% tax deductions.

Donate. Help Society. Save Tax

Donating to charity is one of the simplest methods to save tax. When NGOs receive more funds, it allows them to enhance their reach and impact in a bid to support those in need. The government provides this incentive to encourage people to donate to NGOs and thus, bring about a change in the society.

Donate to Akshaya Patra and Avail Tax Benefits

As an NGO for children, Akshaya Patra implements the Government of India’s Mid-Day Meal Programme (PM POSHAN Abhiyaan) in numerous government and government-aided schools in India. When children receive nutritious meals, it gives them the energy to concentrate on classroom activities and perform well in their academics.

Currently, we are feeding over 2 million children every day. Through 67 kitchens spread across the country, we prepare meals using standardised recipes that align with nutritional guidelines and distribute them to the children without compromising on quality and hygiene. Our mission is to nourish the dreams of 3 million children by 2025 and for that your contribution is vital.

If we look at the best NGOs in India, it is evident that they give due importance to transparency and accountability. In fact, transparency in financial records plays a pivotal role in determining the effectiveness of NGOs. Showing donors how their contributions are being used is vital in assuring them that their support fulfils its intended goals. They have to prove to donors that their donation is being utilised for the intended purpose.

The best NGOs in India always maintain transparency in their financial records. With this note, we take pride in sharing that Akshaya Patra has received ICAI’s Goldshield Award for seven consecutive years for ‘excellence in financial reporting’. This prestigious recognition is a testament to our dedication to alleviate classroom hunger and ensure education for all children.

Donate to Akshaya Patra for the overall well-being of children. Your small contribution will make a big difference. It will help us create a beautiful future for children. You will receive the tax receipt within 10 days.

Our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi averred, “If we have to promote the development of our country, then our mission has to be skill development and skilled India. Millions of Indian youth should go for acquisition of skills and there should be a network across the country for this and not the archaic systems.” Keeping this thought in mind, after campaigns like ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ Narendra Modi has launched a new programme called ‘Skill India’. This is a multi-skill programme exclusively launched and designed for the youth of our country to usher multiple job opportunities and prevent brain drain form our country.

On the occasion of National Youth Day we will delve deep into the importance and relevance of skill development. India since its inception has been struggling with issues of unemployment and poverty that go hand in hand in our nation. Today according to the Labour Ministry report on Youth Employment-unemployment scenario, it is found that the unemployment rate is 13.3% for the age group 15-29. The report further observed that “people are actually overqualified for the job they are doing and therefore society is losing their valuable skills and forfeiting stronger productivity growth that would have been achieved”.

Therefore it can be clearly stated that Modi’s ‘Skill India’ programme is indeed the need of the hour. Where 1 out of every 3 individual in the age group of 5-29, who have completed at least their graduation are found to be unemployed, vocation training and skill development is the only medium by which the youth can be empowered and unemployment and poverty can be kept at a bay. ‘Skill India’ aims at providing skill development to 40.02 crore youth of India by 2022, covering every Indian village for which various training programmes and schemes have already been proposed.

What’s new in ‘Skill India’?

In order to guarantee skill and trained manpower Skill India programme unlike the earlier skill development policies where stress was given only to traditional jobs, promises equal emphasis to all kinds of jobs. Earlier, the responsibility was divided among various ministries, but this time all ministries are clubbed together for a greater success of the programme. Not only that, even corporate educational institutions, Government and non-Government set ups are expected to contribute considerably leading to greater youth development in the shortest time possible. Under this programme even jobless and dropouts will be given value addition by providing certificates that will be recognised by private and public agencies including overseas organisations after successful completion of a particular skill development programme.

Advantages of ‘Skill India’:

• Increased employment
• Raise confidence among the youth
• Improve productivity and knowledge
• Enable youth to get blue-collar jobs
• Development of skills at school level
• Balanced growth in all sectors
• Equal importance to all jobs
• Compulsory soft skill training for every job aspirant
• To touch base with rural and remote India

On a comprehensive note ‘Skill India’ is by far one of the best initiatives the Government has taken. Providing vocational and soft skills training to youths of India that has the highest demographic dividend is indeed a noble and judicious undertaking. If this programme succeeds then India will definitely have 40.02 crore trained workforce by 2022.

Focusing on programmes for a skilled India, Akshaya Patra works in partnership with the Government of India to enhance the skills of the workforce involved in the mid-day meal programme.

The organisation also conducts massive training for number of cook-cum-helpers of Mid-Day Meals Programme, across India; in association with Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

Akshaya Patra believes that skilful people means a ‘skilled India’ and it is committed to participate in all initiatives that cater to developing ‘Skilled India’.