PepsiCo India, via the PepsiCo Foundation and partner Pandit Jagat Ram Memorial FORCE Trust, will extend its water security and sanitation efforts from 13 villages in Mathura to 17 more, doubling reach to 100,000 people under the Water & WASH Secure Villages Initiative.
The expansion builds on achievements in safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and groundwater management, implemented with local panchayats, administrations, communities and schools. It aligns with PepsiCo’s “Partnership of Progress” ethos, emphasizing multi-stakeholder collaboration for rural India’s water security, the company said in a statement.
Announced at the Convergence for Water and WASH Secure Rural Communities conference in New Delhi, the event drew India’s Jal Shakti Minister of State Raj Bhushan Choudhary, officials from national missions, CSR executives, panchayat leaders and Uttar Pradesh community figures. Highlights included unveiling “Pathways to Effective Rural Water Sustainability & WASH Interventions,” a compilation of program success stories.
Choudhary praised the initiative, quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “Catch the rain where it falls, when it falls,” and lauded PepsiCo and FORCE for generational water security benefits.
Yashika Singh, PepsiCo India and South Asia’s chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer, said: “True progress comes from communities, partners and institutions advancing together. Our Water & WASH Secure Villages Initiative’s success in 13 villages proves collective action’s power, now extending water security to 17 more for resilient futures.”
Globally, the PepsiCo Foundation’s 2024 water access programs aided 1.2 million people, totaling over 96 million since 2010, prioritizing infrastructure and stewardship in high-risk zones. India’s expansion is a key focus.
FORCE founder Jyoti Sharma noted: “Community-driven solutions ensure lasting water security. Partnering with PepsiCo India, we’ve boosted sanitation, health and resilience in Mathura, leveraging conference insights for greater impact.”
The project has deployed 11 community and 12 school reverse osmosis units, rainwater harvesting, pond rejuvenation, hygiene drives and training for water committees, backed by hydrogeological studies and behavior change campaigns. It supports Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission and climate goals.
PepsiCo India advances water security through watershed projects, recharge, regenerative farming and community access, fostering resilient agriculture and national agendas.