This partnership will enable them to spread cheer among underprivileged families this Diwali and they will be seen distributing thousands of sweet boxes across 6 cities. Earlier, the payment gateway had also sponsored Khanna's Feed India Initiative.

Paytm has partnered with award-winning Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna to reach out to our less fortunate fellow citizens this Diwali, and share some joy in the form of sweets, in keeping with the festival's tradition of hope. Paytm will sponsor the initiative seeking to distribute thousands of boxes containing half a kilogram of sweets each to underprivileged households. The boxes will be distributed across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore.

A Paytm spokesperson said, "This year has been tough for India and the ongoing pandemic has hit those already bearing the brunt of poverty, the hardest. This initiative aims to spread a little bit of Diwali joy, and is a humble effort by us to let them know that they are not forgotten during this festive season. We remain committed to serving Indians in every way."

Chef Vikas Khanna said, "Diwali is meant to be a time of joy when people renew the bonds of friendship and family. But due to the ongoing pandemic this year, this joy has been a bit dimmed for many families. For those with scant economic resources, the mood has been even more sombre. This initiative is our humble effort to bring to them a box of sweets so that each person can forget their worries & celebrate the festival of lights and happiness. This is my humble tribute to the spirit of people and I am proud to partner with Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma & his team in this endeavour. They have always been there to support #FeedIndia with millions of meals."

Paytm has supported Khanna earlier as well, during the lockdown when it sponsored his ‘Feed India’ initiative, serving food to people who lost their source of income due to the lockdown. Paytm's team had also coordinated with NDRF, SSB and Feed India to activate kitchens serving meals to migrants returning home in five railways stations - Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, Varanasi Junction, Danapur, Patna Junction and Muzaffarpur Junction