Press Release

Bodh Gaya, May 26-27, 2023: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will collaborate with Yakult Danone India Private Limited, which manufactures the world's leading probiotic beverage ‘Yakult,' a probiotic fermented milk drink; and FC Nono, a football organisation which is supporting and empowering children through football activities in Bihar, and conduct a kick off session of Achhi Aadat (Good Habit) Campaign (AAC) for children in Bodh Gaya, Bihar on May 26 -27, 2023 as the first event of AAC in Fiscal Year 2023. The main sessions are going to be held for more than 150 children of an orphanage and local schools and their family in Bodh Gaya. Through the sessions, Yakult will deliver its lecture for sharing the importance of nutrition and nutritional management methods that lead to good health, FC Nono will teach football to share the importance of proper physical activity through sport and JICA India will share the importance and the proper ways of the hygiene practices such as hand washing and nail clipping, so that children will learn the daily health management for their future long-term health.

The first session is set to take place on May 26, 2023, at Mocharim, Bodh Gaya, Bihar - 824231 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM. The second and third sessions will be conducted on May 27, 2023, from 7:00 - 9:00 AM and 10:30 - 12:30 AM respectively at Komal Pujan Public School, Silaunja, Bodh Gaya, Bihar - 805131.

JICA launched AAC in January 2021, to raise awareness on the importance of hygiene practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The campaign focuses on introducing an easy and practical approach to the hygiene and sanitation issues by promoting handwashing, nail cleaning and other hygiene practice. The campaign reached out to 12.4 crore people by the end of March 2023, either directly through physical and online educational sessions, indirectly by word of mouth and through media outreach including conventional mass media and social media.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. SAITO Mitsunori, Chief Representative, JICA India said, "We are happy to collaborate with Yakult and FC Nono to conduct the first session of ‘Achhi Aadat Campaign' in Fiscal Year 2023 in Bodh Gaya. Through the campaign, we will work together to promote hygienic practices, nutritional management and physical activities for the health and welfare of people of India. ‘Hygienic practices', ‘Nutritional Management' and ‘Playing Sports' are important elements for the healthy life, none of which should be missing. We hope that this session will help more children to learn the importance of each of these important elements and continue to make them a habit in their daily lives for living better."

About JICA

Established by a specific law, as an incorporated administrative institution under the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation, as the sole Japanese governmental agency in charge of ODA implementation. JICA is the world's largest bilateral donor agency and works as a bridge between Japan and emerging countries, providing assistance in the form of loans, grants, and technical cooperation, to enable the emerging countries to strengthen their capabilities.

About Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd

Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd. is a 50:50 Joint Venture (JV) between Yakult Honsha in Japan and Groupe Danone in France, both of which are global probiotic leaders. The JV was formed in 2005 and Yakult, a probiotic fermented milk drink was launched in India in 2008. In 2018, Yakult Light, a reduced sugar version of Yakult, with vitamin D and E was launched.

About FC Nono

FC Nono set up to solve various social problems and dedicated to social change in Bihar, India. As a charitable and social project, the mission is to improve inclusive living conditions of young girls/boys of Bodh Gaya city, Bihar State in India who are forced to live in poverty through a wide range of social activities focused on health, education and human resources development towards sustainable livelihoods. FC Nono reach out to the youths in impoverished families, prison, the disabled and street children.

• JICA India Office Web
• JICA India Brochure (PDF)
• JICA Facebook Page (external link)

For further information, please contact:

JICA India Office
Shusaku Takada /Aishwarya Mishra
(+91)-11-49097000
Takada.Shusaku@jica.go.jp
Mishra-Aishwarya@jica.go.jp

Edelman India
Rakhi Aurora
(+91)-9599067185
Rakhi.Aurora@edelman.com