Covid-19: How India Inc proves it's good company

India Inc’s leading companies have mounted an unprecedented response in the fight against Covid-19 as the country grapples with the debilitating second wave of the pandemic.Hindustan Unilever, ITC, Tata Group, Reliance Industries, Bajaj Group, Accenture, Flipkart, Amazon, Capgemini, L’Oreal, Citi, UBS, RPG Group, Google, Apple, Honeywell, Axis Bank, Procter & Gamble, and ICICI Lombard are among those extending support.Their efforts are directed toward procurement of oxygen concentrators and ventilators; helping build healthcare and medical infrastructure by way of ICU/oxygen beds and isolation centres; providing meals and kits to underprivileged communities; donating hygiene and sanitisation products or even funding vaccine doses.“There is huge support pouring in from corporates,” said Atul Satija, CEO, GiveIndia, which is working with the likes of Google, Oyo Care, Walmart Foundation and Cred and is in advanced conversations with at least 50 more companies.Corporates are focusing more on areas such as physical infrastructure and medical equipment and supplies this time since this wave is more of an urgent healthcare crisis, compared with last year when it was more of a social and humanitarian one, Satija said.82448453A significant part of the corporate initiative is aimed at fixing the country’s oxygen supply and the medical infrastructure challenge. HUL for instance has procured more than 2,000 oxygen concentrators for the most affected cities and localities while an additional 47 ventilators are being donated. ITC has supported the setting up of a 200-plus bed medical facility in Kolkata in collaboration with Medica Superspecialty hospital, besides tying up with Linde India to import cryogenic containers for oxygen supplies.Reliance Industries has tweaked manufacturing at its Jamnagar oil refinery to become the largest producer of medical-grade liquid oxygen, which is being supplied free to badly hit states. Walmart, the Walmart Foundation, Flipkart and PhonePe, along with Walmart’s global technology and sourcing hubs, are collaborating to counter oxygen shortages, support the national vaccination drive and donating to organisations making a difference.Philanthropy driveMany companies are supporting Covid-relief efforts through funding, committing larger amounts than last year.“In light of the alarming spread of the second wave in the last two months, Axis Bank has more than doubled its CSR (corporate social responsibility) outlay towards supporting both citizens and authorities,” said Rajesh Dahiya, executive director, corporate centre, Axis Bank. “We are gearing towards rolling out a multi-pronged approach that will help mitigate the current shortages in healthcare infrastructure, link critical infrastructure with those who require it, and raise vaccine awareness.”The Bajaj Group has pledged additional financial support of Rs 200 crore toward the Covid-19 response. Capgemini has committed Rs 50 crore for Covid-care ICU facilities, oxygen generation plants, other long-term medical infrastructure and relief operations. Accenture has made a fresh pledge of Rs 185 crore for Covid-19 pandemic relief efforts, its chairperson Rekha M Menon said in a LinkedIn post. Amway is donating $1 million for resources such as ventilators and oxygen concentrators.As reported by ET earlier, Tata Group companies are expected to plough Rs 2,000 crore into a “no-limit Covid care initiative” for setting up hospital beds, arranging oxygen and training medical volunteers.L’Oréal is working with a network of NGOs across India to provide critical oxygen equipment, medical supplies, food, education and hygiene kits across the country.VaccinationWith vaccination a key focus area, companies are pitching in on this front as well. ICICI Lombard is conducting a vaccination drive in Mumbai--it will undertake about 60,000 jabs for the disadvantaged. Procter & Gamble is contributing to the vaccination of over 500,000 people in the country by pledging Rs 50 crore. Some like RPG Foundation are working to help the underprivileged. After the announcement of closures, KEC joined hands with the local authorities in Nagpur to provide freshly cooked food to daily wage earners and the underprivileged in line with the Maharashtra government’s Shivbhojan initiative.

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/3uqLjct