Kolkata, Jun 14 : Continuing with its efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and helping the communities in need, PepsiCo Foundation has announced a series of community relief outreach programs for West Bengal in partnership with Sustainable Environment and Ecological
Development Society (SEEDS) India.
As part of the program, PepsiCo Foundation and SEEDS India today provided oxygen
concentrators and hygiene kits to the statein the presence ofMs. Mukta Arya, IAS, District
Magistrate, Howrah, West Bengalto support the state’s on-ground medical requirements.
The oxygen concentrators will be installed in local Government hospitals in Howrah.Hygiene
kits consisting of masks, sanitizers, soaps, and gloves where also handed over to ensure the
safety of frontline workers and communities.
Mukta Arya, IAS, District Magistrate, Howrah, West Bengal, said,“The District Magistrate-Howrah extended her gratitude to PepsiCo Foundation and SEEDS for this gesture and their sense of social responsibility. She said the initiatives from the private sector strengthens the public health
infrastructure greatly in the time of pandemic.”
Dr Manu Gupta, Co-founder, SEEDS,said, “We are grateful to PepsiCo for their consistent
support throughout our efforts to share the burden on our health care system. Our focus has
been to reach out to the most marginalised sections of the society and help them get timely
and easy access to basic health and isolation care during these challenging times. We are
certain that the communities who are often left under the radar during any disaster response
will be able to get great support with help of these oxygen concentrators in Howrah. We shall
remain committed to serving the most vulnerable communities with best of our efforts.”
Ahmed ElSheikh, President, PepsiCo India, said, “India is embattling the second wave of the pandemic and we all are facing a challenging situation. In these difficult times, it becomes even
more important for businesses to come together and partner with Centre and State Governments,
civil society, NGOs, and healthcare institutions to support communities in need. We are thankful
to have partners like SEEDS to help provide oxygen concentrators to communities in need. As a company, we will continue to do our best and stand with the Nation in these unprecedented times.”
West Bengal is one of the key states for the community relief program launched by PepsiCo Foundation and SEEDS India. In addition to the oxygen concentrators, Covid-19 care centre and vaccination drives will also be set-up in Howrah for the communities at large.
PepsiCo India has been working closely with the State Government of West Bengal towards extending support to the impacted communities due to the pandemic. PepsiCo India, over the last
one year, has undertaken a series of initiatives for the communities in West Bengal.
The company distributed over 10 lakh meals to the Covid-19 and Amphan affected communities
in Howrah, Krishnanagar and Bankura. Besides, provided 1000 hygiene kits and 80 water filters
for safe water access to the community members during cyclone Amphan in East Medinipur,
Howrah, Kolkata, and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.
In addition to that, as a token of gratitude for the relentless work done by farmers and truck
drivers while braving the pandemic, PepsiCo India provided hygiene kits to them and their
families; and organised awareness sessions on the best hygiene practices to be followed.(UNI)