ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited has partnered with Bengaluru-based NGO The Akshaya Patra Foundation to provide groceries to thousands of families severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

ManipalCigna, a joint venture between Manipal Group, an eminent player in the field of healthcare delivery and higher education and Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI), a US-based global health service leader, in collaboration with Akshaya Patra distributed 4,550 Family Happiness Kits worth over Rs 55 lakh across six cities in India.

The coronavirus outbreak has unleashed an unprecedented crisis wreaking havoc on countless lives and livelihoods in the last two years. Vulnerable groups such as daily wagers, labourers and children have been the worst affected. To fulfil some of the basic needs of these families, employees of ManipalCigna Health Insurance volunteered at The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s COVID-19 Food Relief Centres in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Guwahati, and Delhi on December 17 and 18, 2021 and distributed grocery kits.

Sapna Desai, Head of Marketing and Digital Sales, ManipalCigna Health Insurance, said, “Taking care of health is the need of the hour given the times we live in and it has been our privilege to partner with Akshaya Patra to help provide dry ration kits to families from vulnerable communities in these times of adversity. At ManipalCigna, we are focused on improving the health, well-being, and peace of mind of those we serve, and to do this, we endeavor to address food insecurity and help build healthier communities under the Cigna Foundation’s ‘Healthier Kids For Our Future’ program.”

ManipalCigna’s donation to Akshaya Patra is part of The Cigna Foundation’s $25 million ‘Healthier Kids For Our Future’ program that’s aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – good health and well-being, zero hunger and no poverty. Cigna Corporation’s over 74,000 global employees are working together to put children on a healthier path, starting with reducing childhood hunger and improving nutrition in local communities.

Acknowledging their outreach effort, Mr Sundeep Talwar, CMO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation said, “We are immensely grateful to employees of ManipalCigna for their wholehearted volunteering support to enable this endeavor. If we have reached this milestone of serving thousands of underserved families and children, it is because of the collective efforts of everyone involved. This multi-city grocery kit distribution that ManipalCigna and Akshaya Patra planned and executed has been one of the most rewarding physical volunteering efforts we have undertaken since Covid-19 became a part of our life. We are happy to have ManipalCigna as our partner and are confident that this collaboration will continue to serve children and communities in the years to come.” 

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 and two Union territories of India.

About ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited

ManipalCigna Health insurance Company Limited is a joint venture between Manipal Group, an eminent player in the field of healthcare delivery and higher education in India, Cigna Corporation, a global health services company with 225+ years of experience. ManipalCigna is headquartered in Mumbai and has 50 branch offices covering major metros and towns. The company has built a strong multi-distribution network of over 30,000 agents, 300+ major brokers and is present in over 15,000 point of sales locations across the country through its distribution network. ManipalCigna also has tie-ups with 12 leading banks, over 35 NBFCs, MFIs and corporate agents for distributing health insurance solutions. It has a network of over 6,500 trusted hospitals across cities including tier I, tier II and tier III towns in India. To learn more, visit www.manipalcigna.com

About the Cigna Foundation

The Cigna Foundation, established in 1962, is a private foundation funded by contributions from Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI) and its subsidiaries. The Cigna Foundation supports organisations sharing its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and families, and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those communities where Cigna employees live and work.

About The Akshaya Patra Foundation

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation 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.