CHEF SANJEEV KAPOOR TO HOST COOKING DEMONSTRATION AND LAUNCH BEHAVIOUR CHANGE CAMPAIGN AROUND CLEAN COOKIN IN INDIA

Mumbai, 29^th January 2019: The Clean Cooking Alliance along with Tata Trusts and other partners is going to kick-off its pilot project of Alliance’s behavior change campaign at the Taj Land’s End Hotel, Mumbai on January 31st, 2019 from 03:30- 05:00 pm. The event will begin with a cooking demonstration using clean cooking solutions by Celebrity Chef Mr. Sanjeev Kapoor. The event will not only feature a Q&A between Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Alliance CEO Dymphna van der Lans, will also mark the launch of the Alliance’s behavior change campaigns in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat for the next six months, this campaign will promote the adoption of clean cook-stoves among the rural population and convince them to stop using traditional cook-stoves (Mitti Ka Chulha).

Over 789 million people in India comprising nearly 60 percent of the population depend on polluting, open fires or inefficient stoves to cook their food, harming health, the climate, and environment. The exposure to household air pollution from cooking is a leading risk factor for various diseases, especially amongst pregnant women and children.

This urgent need to tackle the deadly effects of household air pollution brings together Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Infosys Co-founder Narayan Murthy, Clean Cooking Alliance CEO Dymphna van der Lans and other prominent leaders to raise awareness about the impacts of cooking over polluting open fires and inefficient stoves. These leaders aim to highlight the stark reality that household air pollution from cooking and heating contributes to the deaths of nearly half a million Indians every year, and disproportionately affects women and girls.

The Alliance  and Tata Trusts through their pilot projects in UP and Gujarat, aim to address millions of Indian women and their families, who are suffering from multiple health and lifestyle issues because of cooking over polluting, open fires or inefficient stoves. This behavior change program will encourage people shift to clean cooking solutions that are cleaner and equipped with more modern stoves and fuels to reduce pollution and health hazards.

During the event, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor will also discuss with other participants how the Alliance, the India Leadership Council, and clean cooking businesses are trying to bring greater investment into this sector. He will also facilitate a demonstration of the clean cooking technologies promoted by various companies and organizations to spread the message that clean cooking must be accessible to all.

Sanjeev Kapoor, Master Chef says “This has been a great opportunity for me to exercise my social responsibilities and raise awareness about the harmful health, climate, environment, and gender impacts of cooking over polluting open fires and inefficient stoves. As a culinary expert and renowned chef, it becomes my responsibility to inspire millions of Indians and help CCA in creating a healthy and sustainable environment by opting for clean cooking devices”.

Narayan Murthy Co-founder of Infosys says “my siblings and I have watched our mother cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner using woodstove and the poor lady had to work very hard. If country like India has to redeem the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, then India has to work on health, education, nutrition and clean energy including for cooking".