Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust Hosts CSR event in Hilton Bengaluru – From CSR to Community
GV Rao – Director CSR & External Industry Affairs, Volvo
Shreya Krishnan – MD India, AnitaB.org
Marking a decade of impactful service, the Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust hosted a landmark event at Hilton Bengaluru, Embassy Golf Links Business Park on 27th June 2025, uniting leaders from business, government, and civil society to reaffirm the mission for which Annapoorna Trust deeply stands for: “Let no child go to school hungry, ever!”
The gathering was a celebration of impact and a call to expand the Trust’s reach from 10 million to 20 million children nationwide.
An Evening of Purpose and Partnership
The evening began with a warm welcome by Mr. Sourav Dutta, setting the context for the evening, followed by the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Trustees of the Annapoorna Trust.
A key highlight of the event was the emceeing by Ms. Inchara and Ms. Sai Bhagwati, both aspiring medical students from Pre-University grades. Though not professionals, they led the program with poise and confidence, shining examples of how rural youth thrive when given opportunities in nutrition and education.
An inspiring keynote by Ms. Shreya Krishnan, MD of AnitaB.org India, delivered a powerful keynote highlighting child malnutrition as a silent emergency, with India ranking third in zero food availability—a crisis demanding urgent action to end hidden hunger.
Following this Mr. Ashish Bhardwaj, Trustee and Chief Development Officer of the Annapoorna Trust, then took the audience through the Trust’s impactful 10-year journey, showcasing how a focused mission has transformed thousands of classrooms across India. He addressed key questions—how the journey began, the Trust’s core focus, its mission, and the scale of its operations.
Next, a truly moving moment unfolded. Ms. Nisarga, a beneficiary from the program’s early days 12 years ago, shared her inspiring journey. Coming from a humble background and facing significant hardships, the daily nutrition she received empowered her to unlock her potential, which enabled her to get an excellent score in her Grade 10, ranking 1st in her school and 9th in the district. Now pursuing her M.Sc. in Mathematics, she aspires to give back to society, crediting Annapoorna’s nutritious meals for shaping her path to success.
Soon after, Mr. Anand Kadali, CEO of the Trust, who was invited on the stage to present the roadmap ahead, inviting individuals and organisations alike to join hands in creating a sustainable, long-term impact.
Commissioner of the Department of School Education, Karnataka
It was a proud moment to host Dr. Trilok Chandra, Commissioner of the Department of School Education, Government of Karnataka. In his address, he highlighted the crucial impact of initiatives like Annapoorna and proudly announced that, starting this year, the SaiSure Fortified Nutrition program—served with milk—has been scaled up to all five school days across the state. In recognition of his valuable presence and continued support for the cause, Dr. Trilok Chandra was honoured with a heartfelt felicitation by Mr. Jayaprakash Tallam, Trustee of the Annapoorna Trust.
Harshit Muppiri – Regional Impact Program Lead, Atlassian, G.V. Rao – Director CSR & External Industry Affairs, Volvo, Anjali Jha – Social Impact & Sustainability Lead, O9 Solutions, Anand Kadali – Trustee & CEO, Annapoorna Trust, Akil Arin – Regioal Manager – Social Impact, Netapp (Read from L-R)
Dr. Trilok Chandra – Commissioner of the Department of School Education, Government of Karnataka
Insights Through Dialogue
As the audience was served SaiSure, the evening transitioned into a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “From CSR to Community”, moderated by Mr. Harshit Muppiri. The discussion brought together diverse voices from across sectors, including Mr. Akil Arin from NetApp and Ms. Anjali, CSR Head at O9 Solutions, to explore the evolving role of corporate social responsibility in driving systemic change.
A standout contribution came from Mr. G.V. Rao of Volvo, who, as a panel member, emphasized the tangible outcomes of their two-year partnership with the Annapoorna Trust. Mr. Rao also spoke about Volvo’s various thematic CSR focus areas and how their association with Annapoorna in the field of nutrition has been impactful.
Mr. Sai Prasad, CFO of the Trust, summed up the discussion with a clear message: Partnerships are the cornerstone of sustainable and scalable nutrition efforts.
Pledge Cards:
Pledge cards were provided to all attendees, inviting them to contribute in meaningful ways—through collaboration, referrals, or other forms of support. As they departed, each guest reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the program’s mission and helping scale its impact.
Culmination of a Powerful Evening
The night concluded with a heartfelt address by Guest of Honour Mr. Prasad Bidapa – Fashion consultant & textile revivalist, and closing remarks by Ms. Chetana T J, CSR Manager of the Trust. A thematic, zero-waste dinner celebrating regional flavours added a thoughtful touch to the occasion, aligning perfectly with the Trust’s sustainability values.
Conclusion
Looking ahead, this event marked a pivotal moment for Team Annapoorna—not just a time for reflection, but a call to action. With a shared vision and united effort, the mission to build a hunger-free India moves forward with renewed strength.
Extreme right – Guest of Honour Mr. Prasad Bidapa – Fashion consultant & textile revivalist with Trustees of Annapoorna Trust
