Amazon supporting the cause of the girl child with its Festive Yatra products

Amazon has concluded its 25-days nationwide Amazon Festive Yatra, a unique “house-on-wheels” showcasing the best of India selection on Amazon.in in Bangalore by donating it to the Akshaya Patra Foundation to support the cause of the girl child in India. The donation includes over 600 products from small & medium businesses and micro entrepreneurs, worth over INR 10 lakhs. The donation includes innovative products from India’s startups, women entrepreneurs as well as traditional and unique handicrafts and handlooms from artisans, weavers and tribal communities from across India. Some of the products from the #AmazonFestiveYatra were auctioned at a fund raiser supported by the two organisations for the cause of the girl child. Most of the products in the auction were unique traditional Indian handicrafts such as traditional Rogan art painting from Gujarat, Dokhra art from Chhatthisgarh, Brass and marble from showpieces from Uttar Pradesh, Tanjore paintings from Tamil Nadu and more.

Manish Tiwary, Vice President, Category Management says,“At Amazon, we have a deep conviction that our success is closely connected to the entire ecosystem growth and we have therefore chosen to work with more than half a million small businesses across the country, including many traditional artisans, women entrepreneurs and emerging businesses. The #AmazonFestiveYatra traversing 6000 kms across 9 states and 13 cities in 25 days was a celebration of this ecosystem, to showcase how we are bringing the best of India to our customers this festive season. This celebration could only be completed with the joy of giving and this festive season, the Amazonians have decided to support the cause of the girl child in multiple ways including an employee fund-raising and volunteering program for October. With this cause close to our hearts at Amazon, we therefore decided to partner with Akshaya Patra Foundation as we have worked with them for last few years and value their experience, scale and commitment to improve lives. We are humbled and honored we can continue to help and look forward to an even stronger relationship in times ahead to help make lives better.”

Shridhar Venkat, CEO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation says, “The work we do is made possible by the support of well-wishers and donors. Amazon has been a generous and thoughtful partner, using its scale and reach across the country to contribute in a meaningful and impactful manner. The festive season for us is as much about rallying contributions from across the country to ensure every child has food on the table, as it is about celebration. We are grateful for the partnership and alignment with Amazon that will support the girl child empowerment.”

Of the donated products, grocery products will become a part of Akshaya Patra Foundation’s kitchens across India, which prepare food for India’s children who need it the most. Other products will be auctioned among employees and donors of Akshaya Patra to raise additional funds for the mid-day meal program in girl’s schools and ‘Beyond The Meals’ initiatives like School & Student Transformation, Avsar scholarship programme and Giving Every Dream A Chance talent mentorship programme for empowering girl child.

The festive contribution is another step in Amazon’s two years association with Akshaya Patra Foundation. Amazon first started its association with Akshaya Patra foundation in 2017 – 18 for The Ksheera Bhagya Scheme which provides protein rich and nutritious glass of milk and biscuits five days a week to 1,40,000 children in Government and Government aided schools in Bangalore, Karnataka. Since FY 2017-18, under this partnership Amazon has donated 2.3 crore cups of milk on 180 school working days, donated 3,100 plates and glasses to school children and 50 Amazon volunteers have contributed 190 man hours at the Foundation’s kitchens. With this new initiative Amazon aims to bring more girls to schools to empower and make them independent.