Matt Damon gets $8 mn for safe water facility in India

New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) Hollywood actor Matt Damon's non-profit organization Water.org has received $8 million grant from PepsiCo Foundation to improve access to safe water and sanitation in India.

This partnership will help enable approximately 800,000 people to access safe water by March 2016.

'There will never be enough charity in the world to solve the water problem. What we need to do is double down on smart solutions which can rapidly scale safe water and sanitation access for families that are in desperate need right now,' Damon, 41, said in a statement.

'In the US, we have the luxury to debate and plan for water shortages and investments in our infrastructure. For billions, this is a daily nightmare and fight for survival. It's visionary partners like the PepsiCo Foundation that recognizes that and I hope their example inspires others to follow suit,' he added.

In 2008, PepsiCo Foundation contributed $4.1 mn to Water.org resulting more than 250,000 people to access improved water and sanitation through initiatives funded by microfinance loans.