UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / - 03 December 2007 -- The Indian chapter of TABLE FOR TWO is being launched today at the World Economic Forum’s India Economic Summit by a group of Young Global Leaders who have committed to simultaneously targeting hunger in the developing world and obesity in developed countries.

This initiative offers a simple scheme to address both global challenges at the same time.

"Every time someone eats a healthy meal at participating company cafeterias, restaurants and events, 20 cents is donated to fund a healthy school meal in developing countries," said M. James Kondo, President and Vice-Chairman of the Health Policy Institute, Japan, a Young Global Leader and Co-Founder of the TABLE FOR TWO initiative.

Today, two Indian-based companies, Dabur India and Godrej Industries, have announced their commitment to join the initiative and start the Indian chapter, which will benefit children as it aims to increase school attendance and thus education.

"It is imperative that corporates adopt a humane approach towards social development and environment protection in a fast developing country like India.

Corporate social responsibility should be supplemented with individual involvement at all levels to achieve any realistic integration of economic and social progress.

Corporate citizenship should now strive towards a participative 'movement' that would ensure sustained social development in the long run," said Tanya Dubash, Executive Director and President of Marketing at Godrej Industries, and a Young Global Leader.

"Dabur India is not only committed to making good products that make the world a better place to live in, but is also dedicated to meeting or exceeding societal needs.

The 'TABLE FOR TWO' programme takes our commitment towards the health and well-being of every household to the next level by reaching out to needy children and providing them with a nutritional diet.

This will give us a unique opportunity to truly make a difference in India and build a foundation for economic development and social advancement," said Amit Burman, Vice-Chairman of Dabur India, also a Young Global Leader.

To help in the launch of the Indian chapter, healthy lunches are being offered at the World Economic Forum’s India Economic Summit.

Twenty cents will be donated for every participant's lunch, paid by the World Economic Forum and Taj Palace Hotel, to fund a school meal in a developing country.

"The World Economic Forum supports this initiative of the Young Global Leaders, and congratulates the launch of the Indian chapter," said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.

"We encourage businesses in India, of all sizes, to implement healthy TABLE FOR TWO meals in their cafeterias, and to contribute to better nutrition for employees while at the same time providing a daily meal for poor children around the world."

Eighty percent of proceeds from the Indian chapter will go towards providing school meals in India.

The remaining 20% will be pooled globally to help provide meals in the most desperate regions of the world, including Africa, and those areas affected by war and famine.

The initiative was launched globally in September 2007 at the World Economic Forum’s Inaugural Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, People's Republic of China.

Over 40 companies from around the world – including Lehman Brothers, British Sky Broadcasting, IBM Japan, Japan Airways and ITOCHU – have joined the initiative and offer healthy meals to their employees and customers and, in the process, donate 20 cents per healthy meal to school meal programmes in developing countries.

The Indian chapter is the second chapter to be launched after Japan. The US chapter is expected to be launched in April 2008.

Labels: United Nations, U.N., 

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