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Coca-Cola in partnership with Rotary International dedicated 20th ‘Elixir of Life ‘project in the schools of Chennai recently with an aim to provide clean drinking water to 100 schools reconstructed under the ‘School into Smiles’ program. The program on its completion will benefit around 30,000 children.

Dedicating the 20th project at the Advent Christian Middle School at Kanagam, N. Ram, Editor in Chief, The Hindu, complimented Coca-Cola India and Rotary International for their efforts in trying to solve some of the basic needs of under-privileged children of the city and wished both the partners go a long way in addressing social problems that warrant urgent attention of the society.

The unique aspects of the Elixir of Life project include a pioneering initiative to maintain the system for the next three years. In addition to this, a comprehensive maintenance and servicing protocol has been ensured for the success of the project. This includes fortnightly inspection, cleaning of raw and treated water tanks, rinsing and flushing of micron filters, apart from emergency breakdown repair service.

John Ustas, CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd said, “Learning from the benefits of Elixir of Life project, Coca-Cola has initiated similar projects in other parts of the country and plans to provide for clean drinking water to children in 1000 schools across the country by 2010. Elixir or Life project will cover 100 schools in Chennai before the next academic session to reach a total of about 30,000 students.

‘Elixir of Life’ is a convergence of the vision of the two partners Rotary International and Coca-Cola India and is an extension of the Rotary’s ‘Schools into Smiles’ project that envisages betterment of the quality of lives of students. Also present at the occasion was R Rajaramakrishnan, Trustee of Rotary Centenary Charitable Trust &  Rtn. PDG Benjamin Cherian.