Viehbacher, who joined in 2008 from GlaxoSmithKline as the CEO of $46-billion company, was in India for launching KiDS (Kids and Diabetes in Schools), a public initiative along with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI).
“We have settled down the tax issue satisfactorily through courts,” Viehbacher said with referring to the income tax department's demand of a capital gains tax of Rs 700 crore from Sanofi following the acquisition of Shantha Biotech in 2009. In February 2013, the Andhra Pradesh High Court rejected claims of IT department and asked Sanofi not to pay any tax.
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“The Vodafone tax issue has undermined the image of India,” added Viehbacher. IT department had demanded Rs 11,000 crore tax claim on UK telecom major Vodafone Plc for its acquisition of Hutchison Essar.
The project - KiDS aims at children with type 1 diabetes. The programme will raise awareness on diabetes and benefits of healthy nutrition and exercise habits among school children. The project include setting up awareness meetings and activities in schools, development and distribution of a school diabetes information pack to help teachers educate children on diabetes, stated the company release.
The international diabetes federation has reported that the 63 million diabetes patients in India in 2012 would raise to 101.2 million by 2030. Type 1 diabetes burden is estimated at 97,700 children in India.