Income Tax deduction through Non-Government Organizations in India

You could be either a salaried employee or an entrepreneur, you are a taxpayer in the country by default. However, to reduce your income tax liability, there are various allowances available for exemption of tax. You can claim tax deductions by investing in House Rent Allowance, Leave Travel Allowance, Food coupons, Home Loan, Non-Government Organizations (NGO), etc.

There are approximately 3-3.6 million NGOs in India.

An NGO is a Non-Governmental Organization that aims at doing something good to others without any expectation.

Have you contributed towards an NGO? If your answer is no, you have one major reason to save on your taxes – Donation.

There are various NGOs that help you donate by charity.

Doing charity is a selfless act. To encourage donating for good causes, the Income Tax department allows people to claim exemption under Section 80G on the amount that is donated to NGOs and charities.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO in India that works consistently towards providing healthy, nutritious meals to school-going children. It reaches out to 18,02,517 children in 51 locations across 12 States & 2 Union Territories of India and provides freshly cooked meal on all school days. They implement the Mid-Day Meal Programme in 16,856 schools across the country. It strives to reach out to all the children and provide them with the much-needed school meals.

You can be an active part and contribute actively towards NGOs for the betterment of the society. The Government of India introduced Section 80G as tax exemption in India. Under this Act, the amount that is donated towards an NGO can be claimed as a deduction while you file your IT returns. However, the charitable trust should be registered to offer you exemptions from taxes. The donor can claim IT exemption of 100% or 50% of the donation amount depending upon the criteria set by the Income Tax Act.

For any NGO to be fully operational and functional, financial contributions are essential. Every denomination of your money is utilized towards achieving the agenda of the NGO If you donate to Akshaya Patra, your money will be used to providing wholesome, mid-day meals to school children going to Government and Government-aided schools.

Making donations for such initiatives will make lives of other people better. Apart from that, the joy that you experience on thinking ‘That child wasn’t going to school because he couldn’t concentrate in class due to hunger. But because I donated for the child’s meal, he doesn’t miss a day of going to school.’ This is when you are a proud human being.

If you want to identify yourself as life-changer, contribute regularly to any charity that you can connect with. Click here to make your donation today! Your efforts today will build a better, healthy and energetic generation tomorrow.

Akshaya Patra provides midday meal to 1.8 million+ children across India

Midday meal is a provision made by the Government of India to provide cooked meals to school children studying in Government schools and Government-aided schools. This initiative is the largest school meal programme in the world.

To maximise the benefits of this programme, Government has partnered with NGOs to mobilise community support and reach children even at the grassroot level. One of the pioneer NGOs that stepped in as an implementing partner for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme is The Akshaya Patra Foundation. A non-profit organization (NPO) in India, Akshaya Patra has been providing freshly cooked, nutritious, and locally palatable meals to children for the past 19 years. Akshaya Patra is headquartered in Bengaluru with a PAN India reach.

Akshaya Patra was established in 2000 with the vision,
‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger’.

During the initial days, this children NGO provided meals to 1,500 children in five Government schools in Bengaluru. Witnessing the critical need of this meal in supporting schooling of children, Akshaya Patra gradually expanded its programme to other locations. In the meantime, the Supreme Court of India also read out a landmark mandate on 28 November 2001 stating, "We direct the State Governments/Union Territories to implement the Mid-Day Meal Scheme by providing every child in every Government and Government assisted Primary School with a prepared mid-day meal.” This mandate was a welcome progression for Akshaya Patra and this non-profit organization (NPO) in India partnered with the Government to implement the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

Today, Akshaya Patra takes care of daily school meals of
1.8 million+ children across India.

By operating in a public-private partnership model, which has also been recognised as one of the best replicable models, this children NGO expanded its operations from one location to 51 locations. Currently, it has its own kitchens and delivery logistics across 12 states and 2 Union Territories to prepare and deliver midday meals to schools. All its kitchens follow industry standard operating processes with utmost adherence to cleanliness and hygiene practices.

Midday meal is a great incentive for families belonging to challenging socio-economic backgrounds to send their children to school.

Over the years, it has been observed that the school meals open the gates of school for children who would have to otherwise work to earn a square meal. The midday meals have:

-         increased school enrolment

-         regularised attendance

-         decreased drop-out rate

-         improved health of children

-         boosted academic performance

-         supported continuity of schooling

Support this non-profit organization (NPO) in India to reach more children with nutritious school meals. Your support will uphold health, education, and dreams of millions of children across India.

Volunteer for an NGO in India

All of us are so entangled in our daily humdrums that we hardly have time to think beyond our calendars. Yet, there are a few amongst us who can be seen taking action to better the society. They are the volunteers – the agents of change. It is not that they have additional hours in their clock; rather they have the trait called ‘willingness’. The willingness to do something to improve a situation and not just have a conversation over a cup of tea. Be it an Indian NGO or any global NGO, all charitable organisations welcome volunteers with open arms. Even though funds are a critical aspect for an NGOs operation, volunteers play a big role in an NGOs lifecycle.

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time;
they just have the heart.” - Elizabeth Andrew.

What are the benefits of volunteering?

Volunteering is a unique example of how selfless service can help evolve our individual selves from within while transforming the world outside of us.

-          Benefits for the self: When you volunteer your time and skill with an NGO, you receive the fulfilment of bettering the society you are a part of. The inner satisfaction of being a support system for the society is immeasurable. And, the impact you create in the society lasts forever.

-          Benefits for the society: Your time, skill, and efforts potentially change the ecosystem of the society in the most desirable way. For instance, if you engage in volunteer opportunities with a children NGO, then you help several children belonging to challenging socio-economic backgrounds to receive their basic rights, education, health benefits and more. Basically, you transform their lives bit by bit to make it better.

Volunteer with Indian NGO

Why not begin your volunteering journey by joining an organisation in your neighbourhood? Yes, there are more than 3 million Indian NGOs working in various sectors and there is all possibility that one among them could be operating in your neighbourhood too. Or you could also choose an organisation to volunteer with depending on your interest such as child rights, child education, animal protection, water conservation and the like.

As an example, let’s look at The Akshaya Patra Foundation. This is a mid-day meal NGO of India serving school children with nutritious lunch on each school day. This Indian NGO has been in the service of children for the past 19 years. Akshaya Patra has its own kitchens across 51 locations of 12 States and 2 Union Territories to prepare the mid-day meals. Cognisant of the importance of supporters, Akshaya Patra provides a several volunteer opportunities wherein supporters can dedicate their time in the kitchen activities and in beneficiary schools; they can share their knowledge and help in expansion of the Foundation’s reach; they can be online ambassadors and spread the work of the NGO in their social network, and more such opportunities – all to benefit children for whom school meals play a very crucial role. So, choose an Indian NGO you most identify with and generously extend your support as a volunteer.

Because your support matters!

Donating to a non-governmental organization is one of the noblest ways to save tax

We are all aware of income tax and we are also aware that it is our fundamental duty to pay taxes on time every year. Taxes are applicable for all salaried and self-employed individuals earning above a certain income level. Additionally, businesses also need to declare their income and profit based on which the tax slab is decided for them. The taxes we pay are utilised by the government for developmental and security purposes such as constructing hospitals, schools, welfare centres, roads, maintenance of defence forces and the like. However, the Government has also made the provision of tax deductions for the welfare of the taxpayers.

Applicability of tax deduction

The Government of India has made a provision under the Income Tax Act that relaxes the taxable amount of those who have made investment for the welfare of the self or the society. For instance, with regards to welfare of the self, if you are paying for house rent or children education; or you have invested on housing loan or medical insurance, you can avail tax deductions on your taxable income. Similarly, with regards to welfare of the society, is you contribute donations to registered non-governmental organizations in India, you can avail tax benefits under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

Charity – the noblest way to save tax

Investing on personal progress is a must, but at the same time, we must also look beyond ourselves. As citizens, it is our responsibility to contribute towards the upliftment and development of the country. Hence, as a means to encourage people to get involved with charitable organisations, the Government has made the provision of tax exemption donation.

Funds and fundraising are an important aspect of an NGOs operations and your contribution supports non-governmental organisations in India to make progresses in their respective fields of work. This in turn brings about a desirable and sustainable change in the society.

For instance, if you relate to women empowerment, you can choose any of the NGOs working in this field. Similarly, if you strongly identify with health and education of children, you can support child-centric NGOs such as The Akshaya Patra Foundation that provides free school meals to more than 1.8 million children on each school day across 12 States and 2 Union Territories of India.

When you donate to registered non-governmental organisations in India, you may either get 100% or 50% exemption on the donated amount based on a pre-decided slab and criterions set by the Income Tax Act depending on the type of NGO and its cause. Your support to any charitable causes makes you a part of the solution for several critical issues obstructing the progress of the society. Your choice of NGO could be any but your support potentially transforms the entire ecosystem of the society for the better along with making you eligible for tax exemption donation.

In conclusion, as you invest for yourself, take a moment to act for the society too of which you are an integral part!

Disclaimer: Each of the above-mentioned tax exemption plans/investments has its own terms and conditions. Hence, it is advised to understand the respective tax exemption clauses prior to making an investment or a claim.

Celebrate Diwali 2019 with The Akshaya Patra Foundation | Gift A Meal

Make Diwali 2019 a celebration of
victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.

Diwali is a festival of lights and is one of the most-awaited festivals in India. People across the country light diyas, decorate their houses and offices, offer prayers, distribute gifts and sweets to near and dear ones, organise get-togethers, and enjoy fireworks. Diwali celebration has its significance across various belief systems but the symbolic cord that runs across all of them is the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.

Diwali gift ideas

Diwali is one of those festivals where people gift each other as a mark of love, goodwill, respect, and gratefulness. We always look for unique Diwali gift ideas to make the celebrations memorable and joyful. Catering to the ever-growing demands and needs of each generation, the market is flooded with both traditional and new-age gifts; and the overwhelming offers by brands and online stores indeed spoil us for choices. Festive apparels, sweets, gadgets, home appliances, home decor items, eco-friendly gifts and the list goes on – our list of ‘to be bought’ never ends. While you already have listed down whom to gift what, would you like to make Diwali 2019 a little different than usual?

Add ‘Gift a Meal’ to your list of Diwali gifts 

As you brighten up your home with diyas, spread light to the lives of children belonging to challenging socio-economic backgrounds. All you have to do is, provide them with school meals!

Yes, your donation on Diwali to The Akshaya Patra Foundation will make sure more than 1.8 million+ children receive nutritious lunch on each school day. Akshaya Patra is an NGO in India implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme for the past 18 years. Through this programme, the NGO provides freshly cooked, wholesome meals to more than 1,802,517 children in 16,856 Government and Government-aided schools in 51 locations across 12 States and 2 Union Territories of India.

Your choice of adding ‘Gift a Meal’ in the list of Diwali gift ideas will:

·         Defeat classroom hunger by nourishing children with the goodness of wholesome meals;

·         Brighten up their lives with health and fitness by countering lack of nutrition; and

·         Empower them with education and knowledge to triumph over the ignorance that comes with illiteracy.

The best part of ‘Gift a Meal’ is, by choosing to contribute Rs. 1,100 as donation on Diwali, you can gift a year full of daily school meals to a child.

 This Diwali, multiply your joy by sharing a part of your festive light with children for whom the ray of hope lies in the meals they receive at school!

Observe International Day of the Girl Child with Akshaya Patra

11^th October is International Day of the Girl Child.

The International Day of the Girl Child is an annual and global observation held every 11^th of October. The aim of observing this day is to highlight and address various needs and challenges girls face around the world. It is observed so that concerted efforts can be made to promote empowerment of girls as well as uphold their rights. In order to touch upon and address each aspect in totality, this day is celebrated based on specific themes, with the theme for 2019 being “GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable”. The progress that has been made in the past years has been remarkable – be it in the area of education, skill development, rights, and breaking stereotypes – yet a lot more is needed to be done especially among those girls belonging to rural areas, war-hit zones, and those suffering from disabilities. 

"We need to uphold the equal rights, voices and influence of girls in our families, communities and nations. Girls can be powerful agents of change, and nothing should keep them from participating fully in all areas of life."

 - António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.

Empower girl children with Akshaya Patra

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one of the oldest mid-day meal NGOs in India. It has been serving freshly cooked, nutritious meals to school-going children for the past 18+ years by implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The mid-day meals are a source of nourishment, an incentive for children to attend school, and a strong factor in promoting continuity of schooling for children belonging to challenging socio-economic backgrounds. Currently, Akshaya Patra provides nutritious mid-day meals to more than 1.8 million children, on each school day across the length and breadth of India. When you sponsor a child through Akshaya Patra, you give wings to their dreams.

On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child, here is sharing the dreams of a couple of girl child beneficiaries of Akshaya Patra:

The above-mentioned were the dreams of just three girls and there are many thousands of such dreams. This International Day of the Girl Child, allow these tiny girls to dream and empower them to achieve it by choosing to feed the children with Akshaya Patra.

Did you know about Daan Utsav or the Joy of Giving Week?

He who has never denied himself for the sake of giving,
has but glanced at the joys of charity.  - Anne Swetchine

The above words directly resonate with the spirit of Daan Utsav, formerly known as the Joy of Giving. Daan Utsav is an annual week-long celebration observed across the length and breadth of India. It is the biggest celebration of humanity and the spirit of giving back to the society. The Joy of Giving Week brings people from all walks of life together to do something good for society, to help people in need, to spread joy and hope among those who needs it the most. More than charity, it is a platform that gives each and every one the opportunity to share whatever they have – from something as basic as food to resources, money, skill, and time. The Joy of Giving Week is all about what we have and how much we willingly share with those who lack in it.

Celebrate Daan Utsav with NGOs

NGOs across the country celebrate the Joy of Giving Week with much fervour and enthusiasm. They provide a good platform for everyone to involve themselves in the spirit of this philanthropic celebration because they observe it with the single intention of bringing hope and joy among their beneficiaries.  Similar is the reason of The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s Daan Utsav campaign; it is solely intended to support children.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a mid-day meal NGO in India that has been serving nutritious school lunch to children regularly for the past 18+ years. Along with being the source of nourishment for children, mid-day meals also open the gates of school for children. This meal in more than one way has proved to be a potential incentive for education among children belonging to challenging socio-economic backgrounds. Presently, Akshaya Patra provides nutritious mid-day meals to more than 1.77 million children, on each school day across 50 locations of 12 States and 1 Union Territory.

Support children through Akshaya Patra’s #DaanUtsav2019

Akshaya Patra gives you many ways to spread joy and hope among children. Dedicate your Joy of Giving Week by contributing towards any of the below programmes implemented by the Foundation:

1. Mid-Day Meal Programme brings children to school, eliminates classroom hunger, boosts learning, and supports continuity of schooling.
2. Anganwadi Programme provides a healthy foundation for life right from the beginning by ensuring nutrient-rich meals for toddlers and pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
3. Kashirampara Project promotes inclusivity by helping tribal children of Tripura to get mainstream education and wholesome food.
4. Stainless Steel Meal Plate Programme allows children to consume their meals in a clean and hygienic manner.

Because all of us have something to give,
make #DaanUtsav2019 a bigger celebration of humanity and joy.

How to become a volunteer for Non-Government Organization (NGO) in India?

Act to bring the change you desire to see.

we must have heard this phrase many a times almost making it clichéd, yet the significance of its connotation remains unchanged. Many of us must be involved with some or the other social cause and taking tangible actions to bring about a change. Donors, supporters, and volunteers form a strong support system for all NGOs irrespective of their size and their range of operations. Hence, all charitable and non-governmental organisations, be it local, national, or global, provide a wide platform for people to offer their services to their respective causes. Here we will touch upon the aspect of volunteer opportunities in NGOs.

Remarkable role of volunteers

How we want to help an NGO is totally a personal choice,
but what makes the difference is are we doing it selflessly!

Keeping focus on India, we are one among the top countries having approximately 31-lakh NGOs operating for different causes. These NGOs are working relentlessly to bring about a sustainable change across all aspects of the community – people, animals, environment, economy, and more. Each NGO in India, whether it is operating locally or across the country’s topography require the involvement of the citizens in capacity of financial help, knowledge-sharing partners, ambassadors, and volunteers.

Volunteers are one of the most prized possession of NGOs. They are groups of selfless supporters who get involved with the functions of an NGO without expectation of any personal benefit. They are the ‘real examples’ of giving back to society. They selflessly volunteer their time, resource, and skills to benefit others. Volunteers are that asset any and all NGOs strive to build by providing ample volunteer opportunities. Volunteers get involved with spreading awareness about a particular cause, provide on ground support, assist in functions of the organisations based on their skills and expertise. In fact, there are innumerable NGOs across the globe that are completely managed by volunteers. The commitment and sincerity of volunteers have always remained unmatched and will always remain so.

How to become an NGO volunteer?

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time;
they just have the heart.” – Elizabeth Andrew

It is a good feeling and a good trait to be a contributing member of the society. Enrolling as an NGO volunteer will give you numerous opportunities to serve the country in particular and the world at large. All you need to do is:

•       Choose a cause you feel for, the most. It could be anything from human rights to environmental causes, women, children, health, education, animal protection, and the like.
•    Select the NGO you would like to work with.
•   Contact the NGO describing your interest to be an NGO volunteer.
•    Depending on the communication sent by your selected NGO in India, you can begin your volunteer work with them.

Volunteer opportunities in Akshaya Patra

Empower children of India with health, education, and talent

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Indian mid-day meal NGO established in 2000. This NGO has been supporting education of children across India by providing them with nutritious school lunch every day. This meal has proved to be a potential intervention in helping children from socio-economically challenging backgrounds to continue their schooling and walk towards their goals.

Presently, Akshaya Patra is providing regular school meals to 1,765,436 children studying in 16, 785 Government schools and Government-aided schools. The Foundation has its operations in 49 locations of 12 States and 1 Union Territory. This NGOin India encourages and welcomes volunteers, be it individuals, student groups or groups, institutions, businesses, and corporates. The support Akshaya Patra has received from volunteers has immensely benefitted millions of children across the country.

Conclusion

We all have something to give – money, skill, knowledge, or may be just time; and this makes all of us rich in our own ways.

BE A VOLUNTEER.
Be the one to spread love, joy, and hope!

Feeding initiatives implemented by Akshaya Patra in India

Food first, everything else comes later! We all will agree to this.

Food is the basic necessity of any living thing, and so is true for humans too! We all have experienced hunger at some point or the other. We have also experienced the repercussions of staying hungry – low energy, tiredness, inability to concentrate or focus, unproductive, and health issues such as headache, gastric, acidity and so on. And these are the conditions we may undergo for missing out may be a meal or two. Then, imagine those who go hungry every single day! Yes, hunger is a much bigger problem than we can comprehend.

The cause of hunger varies ranging from socio-economic backgrounds to natural or man-made disasters. To tackle this situation, world organisations, governments of countries, and non-governmental organisations have intervened at various levels. Yet, hunger remains a persistent problem. Amidst all the strides made around the world, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a non-governmental organisation in India is also making efforts to combat hunger among children and disaster-hit survivors.

Akshaya Patra implements the Mid-Day Meal Programme in partnership with the Government of India. Established in 2000, it is one of the oldest mid-day meal NGOs in the country. Through this programme, Akshaya Patra provides free school lunch to children studying in Government schools and Government-aided schools. Presently, the NGO feeds 1,765,436 children in 16,785 schools situated in 49 locations of 12 States and 1 Union Territory namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Silvassa, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh.

Aside from the Mid-Day Meal Programme, this charitable trust in India also provides nutritious food in Anganwadi centres and has been a part of several disaster relief operations within and beyond the Indian boundaries.

Together, we can battle the hunger crisis and defeat it too. Support non-governmental organisations in India like Akshaya Patra because these organisations not only fill hungry stomachs but also nurture children right from the beginning. They also extend a helping hand to disaster-affected people during the hour of crisis. When you support to feed the children or contribute towards disaster relief feeding, you truly uphold the spirit of humanity.

Everyone has equal right to food.
So, take a step to support those who lack the means to access it
 

NGO: Akshaya Patra’s work in Rajasthan

Rajasthan, a state in the northwest part of India is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh most populated. It is the land of royals, forts, palaces, and rich culture and heritage. But amidst the kaleidoscopic outlook lies a gripping concern. Rajasthan has the fourth lowest literacy rate in the country and has the lowest female literacy rate too (Census 2011). It is also one among the BIMARU states that has lowest literacy rate and learning outcomes; the other states being Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 

 Rajasthan is also battling high rate of out of school and school drop-out rate. The Government has been taking several steps to address this situation with mid-day meal in schools being one of them. As a supporting arm to the Government efforts, The Akshaya Patra Foundation stepped in to the state as an NGO in Rajasthan in 2004.

Background of Akshaya Patra

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an 18-year old children charity implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme across India. It is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka and has its operations in 12 states and 1 Union Territory including Rajasthan.

At present, Akshaya Patra provides daily school meals to 1,765,436 children studying in 16,785 Government schools and Government-aided schools situated in 49 locations.

Advent in Rajasthan

In the year 2004, Akshaya Patra expanded its operations to Rajasthan by establishing a centralised kitchen in Jaipur. Since then there has been no looking back. Today, this children charity nourishes 2,57,879 children across the state on each school day. Below is a quick look at the location-wise operations and the number of children getting benefitted from the meals provided by this NGO in Rajasthan:

Where is the meal prepared?

Akshaya Patra has its own kitchen in each location to prepare meals for the children. Among all the Akshaya Patra kitchens in Rajasthan, the Jaipur, Nathdwara, and Ajmer kitchens are ISO 22000:2005 certified and the remaining kitchens are in the process of certification. All the kitchens – both centralised and decentralised - strictly adhere to hygiene and cleanliness practices while preparing meals. All the centralised kitchens are equipped with hi-tech machines to prepare large quantity meals in a hygienic way each day. Each of the kitchens have a dedicated fleet of customised delivery vehicles to deliver meals hot and fresh to schools. This NGO in Rajasthan follows Kaizen, Continuous Improvement Projects and Six Sigma methodologies in its kitchens to increase productivity and efficiency of the cooking process.

Menu served

Being a children charity, Akshaya Patra ensures that each child relishes their meals by following a menu that suits the local taste buds along with being nutritious. So, as an NGO in Rajasthan, the Foundation’s menu comprises of:

• roti (Indian flatbread)
• dal (lentil curry)
• rice, mixed vegetable curry
• kadhi (curd-based curry)
• biscuits
• khichdi (a dish made of rice, lentils, and vegetables)
• sweet daliya (a cereal-based dish)
• cake
• biscuit
• kheer (rice-based Indian dessert)

Conclusion

Akshaya Patra wants to expand its reach and benefit more children in the state with wholesome meals and rightful education.

Join hands with Akshaya Patra and be a contributing citizen to make Rajasthan a truly royal state with healthy, educated, and vibrant children.