CSR News: Biocon joins hands with Akshaya Patra Foundation to help citizens during COVID-19

History is witness to the global disruption that has been generated by the rapid spread of coronavirus. Besides being a health crisis, the pandemic also brought economic and business activities to a standstill in India. The collateral damage of this has been denial of livelihood and access to food for the economically challenged sections. It is at this inflexion point that Biocon, India’s largest, innovation-led biopharma company that is no stranger to corporate social responsibility (CSR), approached Akshaya Patra Foundation to collaborate in distributing dry ration kits to vulnerable groups in  Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Moreover, Biocon, quick to adapt to any situation, has been instrumental in developing testing kits and effective therapies for COVID-19. As a CSR Initiative, Biocon’s research arm Syngene International runs an ICMR-approved COVID-19 testing laboratory, using RT-PCR technology, to speed up affordable testing in Bengaluru.

Speaking on behalf of Biocon Foundation, Mission Director, Pratima Rao said, “Aligning with social causes has been fundamental to Biocon’s’ DNA and an integral part of the business model. We have been associated with Akshaya Patra Foundation for some time now. Initially, our primary agenda was to augment the supply of nutritious meals to schools and Anganwadi centres in Karnataka and Telangana. However, at a time when the country was battling a pandemic, the association was extended to reach relief efforts to underprivileged sections of society across several locations. As a further commitment, we will continue to invest in innovative and impactful CSR programmes in partnership with like-minded organisations, to improve the lives of the poor and marginalised communities.”

On the collaboration with Biocon Foundation, Shridhar Venkat, CEO, Akshaya Patra Foundation said, “We are deeply touched with the support we have received from Biocon Foundation during these unprecedented times. We appreciate Biocon for coming forward to collaborate with us in eliminating hunger from society.”

Incidentally, Akshaya Patra and associate foundations have served about 72 million meals to underprivileged sections of the society over the last four months.

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