E-Malt.com News article: India: Kingfisher to label beer bootless with anti-AIDS message

Kingfisher, the largest beer maker owned by UB group chief Vijay Mallya, has joined hands with the Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) by launching an awareness campaign on the scourge of HIV/AIDS through labels on its bottles carrying a message 'Stop Aids: Keep the Promise', Hindu News communicated on December 8.

UB (United Breweries) Group Vice President Govind Tiwari told media persons that it had printed 30 lakh labels already on the bottles carrying the message.

The company manufactures as many as 20 lakh beer bottles per month and all of them will carry the message, henceforth, he added.

Noted iron ore mining company V M Salgaonkar had also joined the GSACS's efforts by announcing its plans to educate the workforce in the industry, particularly the migrant labour force, which was most vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS.

Announcing the decision, company's Manager Rama Parab said a special drive had been launched in the industry to make the workers aware of the evils of the deadly disease so that it could be prevented.

On the occasion, Manorama Bakshi, the workplace advisor of the International Labour Organisation, attached with the GSACS, said the public sector Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has also agreed to comply with the HIV/AIDS policy guidelines announced recently by the State Government.

With this, 10 industries in Goa have joined the GSACS's efforts in launching a drive against the spread of HIV (Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus). More industries were being roped in the task. Goa has a five lakh strong industrial workforce.

The GSACS had launched "workplace intervention" through Ms Bakshi last year in Goa in a bid to target the industrial workforce to begin with, according to the Society Director, Dr J J Dias.

Earlier, State Development Commissioner and Industries Secretary, J K Dadoo, called for concerted efforts to protect the industrial workforce from the spread of HIV/AIDS.


09 December, 2005