January 28, 2026: On National Girl Child Day, Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF) underscores the importance of addressing the interconnected barriers that shape the lives of girls in India, where education, health, inclusion, confidence and opportunity are deeply linked. Recognising that progress for girls cannot be driven through isolated interventions, PRIF designs its programmes as integrated ecosystems that enable long-term, holistic development.
Since 2018, the Foundation’s initiatives spanning education, sports, health and well-being have positively impacted over 3 lakh girls. PRIF’s programmes are designed to work across multiple touchpoints by combining scholarship support, digital learning access, mentorship, sports-based development and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) interventions to address structural barriers that limit participation of girls.
Across geographies, PRIF’s work responds to the realities girls face ranging from early dropouts and limited access to quality education and sports, to health and sanitation challenges and lack of opportunities. PRIF’s current set of programmes focus on community-based Scholarship Centres, STEAM learning opportunities, structured sports training or menstrual health and sanitation initiatives to support girls not only to remain in school, but also to build confidence, agency and pathways to long-term development.
Education remains central to PRIF’s work. In partnership with Youth Dreamers Foundation, the Foundation runs a scholarship support programme aimed at improving access to higher education for marginalised youth in Nashik, Behror and Derabassi. The initiative follows a fully digital and paperless application process. Dedicated Scholarship Centres have been established in villages with a significant proportion of scholarships reserved for girls, with schools, teachers and community leaders actively engaged to mobilise participation. The programme supports over 2,200 students, with over 50% of scholarships awarded to girls
Sports form another critical pillar of PRIF’s approach to girl empowerment. Through Project GATI (Girls in Athletics for Training & Inspiration), the Foundation currently supports 25 girls training in hockey, providing access to professional coaching, safe residential facilities, academic education and regular competitive exposure.
Health, dignity and well-being are addressed through PRIF’s WASH initiatives, UDAAN and UNNATI, which together have reached over 10,000 women and girls. Project UDAAN reached 5,264 women and 2,500+ adolescents, upgraded seven schools, and trained 130 WASH champions. Project UNNATI sensitised 4,800+ girls and women, conducted school-based sessions, and established Women Development Centres supporting Self-Help Group members in enterprises producing sanitary pads, soap and handwash, linking menstrual health awareness with economic empowerment.
Commenting on the Foundation’s approach, Mr. Gagandeep Sethi, Senior Vice President – Integrated Operations and Sustainability & Responsibility, Pernod Ricard India, said,
“Empowering girls requires more than individual interventions. It calls for systems that support education, health, confidence and choice together. Through PRIF, our programmes focus on creating conditions where girls can stay in school, access opportunities, resources, and build the resilience needed to shape their futures.”
Across its initiatives, PRIF adopts a community-first, partnership-driven approach that places girls at the centre of development efforts. By addressing education, sports and well-being together, the Foundation continues to strengthen the ecosystems that enable girls to learn, lead and thrive on National Girl Child Day and beyond.
Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF)
Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF), a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013, is the CSR arm of Pernod Ricard India, dedicated to “Transforming communities and accelerating local development.” PRIF is committed to shaping a better future for communities by focusing on interventions that restore ecosystems, promote water circularity, enhance education, generate livelihoods, improve primary healthcare, and empower social change-makers.
PRIF’s work is structured around four key pillars. In Social Innovation and Transformation, PRIF fosters climate-smart agriculture, circular economy solutions, and plastic innovation, partnering with institutes like IIMs and IITs to incubate startups delivering sustainable, future-ready solutions. On-ground programs also improve the lives of waste workers through recycling, behavioral change, and skill-building initiatives. Through Diversity & Inclusion, PRIF empowers underrepresented groups, including LGBTQI+ communities and differently-abled individuals, while nurturing young talent in education, sports, and the arts, promoting equity and opportunity for all.
PRIF’s Water, Agriculture, Livelihood (WAL) and Environmental Conservation pillar strengthens water-resilient communities, promotes regenerative farming, preserves biodiversity, and enhances livelihoods. Initiatives such as 2,355 water storage structures with a capacity of 3,339 million litres and support for eight Farmer Producer Organisations enable year-round cultivation, improve groundwater levels, and increase farmer incomes. Under Quality Healthcare and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), PRIF provides mobile health services, community medical centres, and hygiene education, reaching over one million people and ensuring access to healthcare, sanitation, and menstrual health facilities, particularly for women and children.
The key pillars are based on an in-depth evaluation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), national priorities, CSR landscape and community needs, for the sustainable development of society.
