Mumbai-based consumer goods company Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) signed an MOU with Indian MFI Village Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. (VFS) to promote access to safe drinking water among the poor. VFS’ clients will be able to purchase HUL’s Pureit water purifier through a zero-interest loan from VFS. The companies expect that up to 250,000 clients could take a loan to purchase the product. Village Financial Services Pvt Ltd., a microfinance company in the eastern region, has signed an MoU with Hindustan Unilever Ltd to promote use of safe drinking water among the poor, according to a release issued by VFS. The collaboration will enable poor households to purchase HUL’s Pureit water purifiers through VFS network. The targeted 2.5 lakh beneficiaries could take loan at zero rate of interest to buy the purifier and loan is repayable weekly over a period of eight months, the release added. http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2010/07/21/stories/2010072152471900.htm