PepsiCo India
Guwahati development department minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya flagging off #GiveMealsGiveHope global programme in Guwahati. Image credit - Northeast Now

PepsiCo India along with PepsiCo Foundation in partnership with Smile Foundation on Tuesday launched its #GiveMealsGiveHope global programme in Guwahati.

The initiative was flagged off by Guwahati development department (GDD) and law minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya.

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The programme will provide for over 2.5 lakh meals to the underprivileged communities which have been impacted by the COVID19 pandemic in Guwahati.

The key locations in which the programme will be launched include Noonmati, Lokhra, Chandrapur Bagicha and Goalpara.

Speaking on the occasion GDD minister Bhattacharya said, “We are amidst unfortunate times which are a first of its kind and it’s in times like these that the government, private sector and individuals need to come together to fight the outbreak of COVID19. “

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“It is also important to ensure that the marginalised societies are catered to in these troubling times,” the minister said.

He thanked PepsiCo India for stepping up and volunteering to help the underprivileged communities in Assam.

“We hope after looking at such initiatives, many other corporates will feel encouraged to help. I am sure that Assam will come victorious against the pandemic,” he added.

PepsiCo India president Ahmed El Sheikh said, “India, like the rest of the world, is going through challenging times.”

In Assam, spearheaded by the state’s health ministry, the government has done a commendable work to launch many initiatives to curtail COVID19 outbreak, he said.

“Contributing to the government’s efforts, we are reaching out to the underserved families in Assam to help them with meals,” Sheikh said.

“We will continue to do our best to serve the nation in these challenging times,” he promised.

Santanu Mishra, co-founder and trustee, Smile Foundation said, “We are happy to partner with PepsiCo India for a meal distribution programme in Assam.”

“Through this initiative, we will distribute food kits to support a five- member family for at least one month.”

“We are glad that this partnership has helped us carry out relief work in some of the most vulnerable sections of the society across the nation,” he added.

Under the#GiveMealsGiveHope global programme, PepsiCo has committed to distribute over 10 million meals to communities most impacted by COVID-19 outbreak in India.

The meals are being distributed in partnership with Akshaya Patra Foundation, Smile Foundation & CII Foundation, across the country.