“We hope that our joint efforts help assuage the state of the most vulnerable people of our society and that through our collective efforts as a country, we will be able to steer ourselves out of these testing times,” says Ishteyaque Amjad, vice-president, public affairs, communications & sustainability, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia. Adds Manoj Gopalakrishna, chief executive officer of CARE India: “The nationwide lockdown for fighting Covid-19 has disproportionately affected the poorest and marginalised population in our country.”

CARE, which has been working in India for 70 years focusing on alleviating poverty and social exclusion, is “responding to today’s emergencies and helping people prepare for tomorrows,” Gopalakrishna says, pointing out that the organisation has responded to the tsunami, the Odisha super cyclone, Uttarakhand and Chennai floods and others. “With the support of Coca-Cola, we hope to make a difference to the vulnerable and marginalised and hope they overcome these unprecedented circumstances,” he adds.

Coca-Cola, the world's largest beverage company with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and nearly 3,900 beverage choices, has on its part an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce its environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for its associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities in which it operates, Amjad adds.