P&G targets to raise a minimum of Rs 50 lakh for Project Poshan every year for the next three years. For every pack of the company's products-Whisper, Head & Shoulders, Pantene and Ariel-sold in the months of May, June and July, P&G will contribute Re 1 to the Project Poshan fund, which will be used by UNICEF to fight malnutrition in India. Anupam Kher, cinestar, who has for long been a supporter of social causes, was present at the recent launch of the programme in Mumbai.

Speaking at the launch, Helmut Meixner, vice-president and general manager, of P&G Asia, said that through this project, the company hopes to fight the condition of malnutrition in India and contribute to the development of the community. Shailesh Jejurikar, marketing director, P&G Hygiene and Health Care Ltd, added that this is the company's endeavour to contribute to build a strong community and a strong India.

P&G has contributed its mite towards social causes in the past, too. Other than the present project, the other community projects launched by P&G in the recent past are Project Drishti and Project Open Minds.

Project Drishti, the first ever sight restoration corporate project undertaken in association with the National Association for the Blind, was launched in March 1999. The project attempted to restore sight to over 250 blind girls from across the country through corneal transplant operations. P&G employees pledged 700 eyes and Rs 1 lakh to the cause as a token of their ongoing support to this movement.

Project Open Minds, which is an ongoing project, is a special programme targeted to support and educate children across Australia, India and the ASEAN region. It was sponsored by P&G in association with UNICEF. The programme, launched in November 1999, focusses on bringing working children to school. The company aims to raise up to US$ 5 million over the next three years to help children develop and grow to leverage their full potential. P&G employees were exhorted to voluntarily contribute one day's salary towards this project.

In February this year, the company presented the second installment of Rs 50 lakh to Alan Court, country head with UNICEF (India). The first installment was also of Rs 50 lakh.