PepsiCo India partners with CII Foundation to serve 2 million meals

Special focus on three States – Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan

Further intensifying its efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, PepsiCo India joined hands with CII Foundation to commit 2 million meals to the marginalized communities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

As part of PepsiCo’s #GiveMealsGiveHope global programme, these meals will be distributed amongst families of farmers, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and migrant workersacross key states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

With this latest partnership, PepsiCo India has upped its commitment to provide over 7 million meals to the underprivileged & marginalized families impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak across India.

As part of the partnership, CII Foundation will provide dry rations to the underprivileged families in partnership with the Local administration and Police Authorities in the States of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Ahmed ElSheikh, President, PepsiCo India, said, “We believe that companies have a bigger role to play in these challenging times. We have been working very closely with CII foundation to take stock of key on-ground requirements and how communities are getting impacted due to COVID-19 outbreak. We are partnering CII Foundation to reach out to these communities and offer assistance in expediting the relief measures. We, at PepsiCo India, are committed to fully support the Government of India in its fight against the global health challenge. We will continue to do our best to serve the Nation in these challenging times.”

Seema Arora, Deputy Director General, CII & CEO, CII Foundation, said, “We are delighted to partner with PepsiCo India to enable relief in some of the most indigent sections of the society during these tumultuous times. Leveraging the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Network in Rajasthan and the Farmer Cooperatives in Punjab and Haryana, we aim to reach out to nearly 25,000 individuals including farm labourers, migrant workers, and other destitute populations in dire need. So far, CII Foundation, CII and CII Membership have reached out to over 25 Lakh beneficiaries across 27 states, through distribution of meals, ration kits, hygiene kits, awareness, etc. We sincerely thank the corporate India for extending the COVID 19 Relief and Rehabilitation efforts into rural areas.”

PepsiCo India had recently partnered with Akshaya Patra Foundation and Smile Foundation to provide 5 million meals to families across India.