Dr.Gururaj Deshpande, co-founder and chairman of Sycamore Networks and chairman of Akshaya Patra, USA , has been appointed as one of the Co-Chairman of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, This is to support President Obama’s innovation strategy by helping to develop policies that foster entrepreneurship, create jobs, and drive economic growth. This was announced by US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at a U.S. Department of Commerce University Innovation Forum at the University of Michigan.

Dr.Deshpande is one of 26 members and the only Indian to be co-chairing this council. Members of the council include serial entrepreneurs, university presidents, investors and non-profit leaders. Steve Case, Mary Sue Coleman, and Desh Deshpande will serve as Co-Chairs.

“America’s innovation engine is not as efficient or as effective as it needs to be, and we are not creating as many jobs as we should,” Locke said. “We must get better at connecting the great ideas to the great company builders. The National Advisory Council will help the administration develop a broader strategy to spur innovation and enable entrepreneurs to develop breakthrough technologies and dynamic companies, and to create jobs all across America.I want to extend my gratitude to the leaders selected to The National Advisory Council. Their work will be a key component of America’s economic recovery.”

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is the largest NGO in the world to implement the mid-day meal program. Behind this simple statement lies a decade of hard work and selfless dedication of all the people that make up the Akshaya Patra family.

Missionaries are an important part of that family. They work tirelessly everyday to ensure that the food reaching out to the children is both nutritious and hygienic. They ensure that the day to day operations of the kitchens follow strict regulations and principles.

Often it is the missionaries who make the innovations and changes that are implemented in many of the kitchens. They work hard to maintain the smooth flow of the operations and put together the improvements required to make our kitchens the best in India.

Shri Yudhishtira Krishna Dasa, the Location Head of Bellary, embodies the spirit of the missionaries when he says “I want to reach out to more children so that we bring a smile to each child. This will give the ultimate satisfaction. This program will give children an opportunity to serve the country better and they will definitely give in a much better way.”