Akshaya Patra And ManipalCigna Health Insurance Partner To Address Covid-19 Food Relief Efforts Across India

* The Cigna Foundation, funded by contributions from Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI) and its subsidiaries has pledged $75,000 for COVID-19 Food Relief Efforts for the economically deprived families under its program, ‘Healthier Kids For Our Future’

ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited, a joint venture between Manipal Group, an eminent player in the field of healthcare delivery and higher education and Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI), U.S. based global health service leader, has partnered with The Akshaya Patra Foundation to distribute a total of 4,550 Akshaya Patra’s Family Happiness Kits in Mumbai/Thane, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Guwahati, and Delhi along with a school painting project. 

The Cigna Foundation, funded by contributions from Cigna Corporation and its subsidiaries has pledged $75,000 to help provide dry ration kits to the economically deprived families affected by the pandemic. The distribution of Family Happiness Kits which will include rice, wheat flour, sugar, pulses, cooking oil and other grocery accompaniments will be carried out on 17th and 18th December, 2021 across the country.

The donation is part of Cigna Foundation’s $25 million ‘Healthier Kids For Our Future’ initiative to improve the health and well-being of children and support local communities. The Healthier Kids For Our Future program addresses three key areas of children’s health and welfare that align to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – good health and well-being, zero hunger and no poverty. Cigna's over 74,000 global employees will work together to put children on a healthier path, starting with reducing childhood hunger and improving nutrition in local communities.

Speaking on the partnership, Sapna Desai, Head of Marketing and Digital Sales, ManipalCigna Health Insurance, said “Lack of quality nutrition can significantly affect people’s physical health and may lead to preventable chronic conditions. Through our partnership with Akshaya Patra Foundation’s Family Happiness Kits program, we at ManipalCigna Health Insurance and the Cigna Foundation are providing the capacity to support the underprivileged families of our society with the nutritious groceries they need for healthy lives”

Acknowledging the support, Mr. Sundeep Talwar, CMO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation said, “It is our responsibility to ensure that nutritious meals are served to children in schools and that no child goes hungry. We're pleased to be working with ManipalCigna Health Insurance, and we're appreciative of the Cigna Foundation’s support in sponsoring our Family Happiness Kits. Such collaborations assist us in serving over 1.8 million children every school day across the country. This was our first collaboration and we hope to strengthen our partnership over time.” 

The Akshaya Patra Foundation aims to address malnutrition and support the right to education of socio-economically disadvantaged children of the nation and beyond with the support of the Government of India, various State Governments, and generous supporters. With this vision, the organization has been concerting all its efforts towards serving children and humanity for the last 21 years with the spread of 58 kitchens across 12 states & 2 Union territories of India. 

About The Akshaya Patra Foundation

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that strives to address classroom hunger and malnutrition in India. By implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Government and Government-aided schools, Akshaya Patra aims to fight hunger and, at the same time, bring children to school. Since 2000, Akshaya Patra has worked towards reaching out to children with wholesome food every single school day. The Foundation is continuously leveraging technology to cater to millions of children. Its state-of-the-art kitchens have become a subject of study and attract curious visitors from around the world.

In partnership with the Government of India and various State Governments and the inestimable support of many philanthropic donors and well-wishers, Akshaya Patra has grown from humble beginnings serving just 1,500 school children across five schools to becoming the world’s largest (not- for-profit run) mid-day meal programme, serving wholesome food to over 1.8 million children from 19,039 schools [as of March 2020] across 13 states and one union territory in India.