MAM
Taco Bell India pays tribute to India’s warriors through ‘Taco Bell cares’ initiative
MUMBAI: Taco Bell India is thanking India’s frontline warriors and pledging support to daily wage earners and underserved communities in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis through its ‘Taco Bell Cares’ initiative.
The brand has gone a step ahead and curated a special recipe known as the Taco Bell Care Power Bowl. The wholesome and filling Taco Bell Care Power Bowl has been developed by the brand’s Food Innovation team and consists of white rice, Pinto beans and spicy salsa. The brand has committed to distributing hundreds of meals each day across operational stores during the lockdown period. The meals comprising of the specially-curated Taco Bell Care Power Bowls will help sustain frontline warriors and daily wage earners as they put in long hours during the ongoing health crisis, often not eating for prolonged durations of time, as well as provide filling meals to underserved communities who are unable to access daily rations.
Taco Bell Cares will be led through collaborations with various hospitals, NGOs and partner brands. Currently, the brand has started distribution across New Delhi and Bangalore and will extend the scale of the initiative as it reopens outlets across different parts of the country. The first such activity was kicked off with non-profit organisation Goonj where meals are being delivered to daily workers. The brand has also initiated a partnership with non-profit World Health Group for their community-driven Project Thali, which aims to connect the dots between partnering restaurants, NGOs and the government and ensure that those unable to claim daily ration get access to food & nourishment.
A Taco Bell Care Fund has also been set up which will see voluntary contributions of one-day salaries by Taco Bell employees as their way of supporting the nation. The proceeds from the fund will be donated to the PM CARES Fund set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sharing his thoughts, Taco Bell’s master franchise partner in India Burman Hospitality Private Limited director Gaurav Burman said, “In these extraordinary times, we at Taco Bell believe that it is only by coming together as a community that we will be able to overcome this pandemic. I am extremely proud that every individual at Burman Hospitality has voluntarily given generously to The Taco Bell Cares initiative. The country’s unsung heroes are leading the fight against the pandemic, often putting their own health at risk in the process. The Taco Bell Care Power Bowls will ensure that our frontline warriors have a healthy and nourishing meal to keep them energised as they continue serving the nation.
Taco Bell’s commitment to distributing meals is an extension of the unique digital activation that the brand-led in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Janata Curfew’ held at the end of March. Taco Bell created a virtual bell on its website and urged netizens to ‘Ring The Bell’ as a way of expressing their gratitude to the COVID-19 Warriors, with each bell rung translating into a meal commitment by the brand.
Brands
UP govt, HGS unit to skill one lakh youth in digital push
MoU targets jobs, training and future ready talent across state
MUMBAI: Government of Uttar Pradesh has joined hands with OneOTT Intertainment Limited, the broadband arm of Hinduja Global Solutions, to train one lakh youth, signalling a fresh push towards jobs in the digital economy.
The memorandum of understanding, signed with the Employment Department Uttar Pradesh, aims to bridge the gap between skills and industry needs while opening up employment pathways for young people across the state.
The agreement was formalised by principal secretary, labour and employment, M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram and whole-time director, Hinduja Global Solutions and MD and CEO, OneOTT Intertainment Limited, Vynsley Fernandes, in the presence of labour minister Anil Rajbhar.
Under the partnership, OneOTT Intertainment Limited will roll out training programmes, workshops and knowledge-sharing platforms designed to equip youth with skills aligned to a rapidly digitising economy. The initiative will also include research inputs, technical guidance and policy-level support to ensure effective execution.
Principal secretary, labour and employment, M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram, said, “This collaboration will help align skill development programmes with actual industry needs and prepare the youth of Uttar Pradesh for emerging opportunities in the digital services sector.”
Hinduja Global Solutions whole-time director, and OneOTT Intertainment Limited MD and CEO Vynsley Fernandes said, “India’s progress is closely linked to strengthening the capabilities of its young workforce. At HGS, we see skills evolving alongside technology, and partnerships like this help build a stronger digital ecosystem.”
The state government will facilitate coordination across departments and institutions, ensuring the programmes reach the right audiences and deliver measurable outcomes.
As digital infrastructure expands and technology reshapes job markets, initiatives like this are positioning skill development not just as training, but as a gateway to opportunity for the next generation.
