Coronavirus: Tracking Corporate India’s fight against Covid-19
Scores of Indian firms and companies have now joined the fight against novel coronavirus pandemic. Some firms are helping manufacture masks, sanitisers and other personal protective equipment (PPE), while others are offering support through sweeping monetary commitments towards PM’s Covid-19 relief fund.
With each passing day, new companies are stepping forward to help in the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic by adopting various measures.
Some of these companies are known well in the industry while others are new, but all of them are trying to do their bit and help medical staff and people across the country.
Here are some companies who committed to tackling the virus outbreak in India (The list will be updated daily to keep you up to date with corporate India’s fight against coronavirus):
Ratan Tata & Tata Group
One of the biggest names to reckon with in India Inc, Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Trusts and Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons has made the biggest contribution towards fighting the Covid-19 disaster at Rs 1,500 crore.
On Twitter, Tata said, “The COVID 19 crisis is one of the toughest challenges we will face as a race. The Tata Trusts and the Tata group companies have in the past risen to the needs of the nation. At this moment, the need of the hour is greater than any other time.”
While Tata Trusts committed Rs 500 crore towards tackling Covid-19, Tata Sons later announced an additional Rs 1,000 crore as support. The Group has donated Rs 500 crore to the Prime Minister’s relief fund, PM-CARES, as part of its Rs 1,500 crore commitment.
The rest will be used to fund the manufacturing of PPEs for medical staff, ventilators, testing kits, setting up modular treatment facilities.
Wipro, Azim Premji Foundation
Wipro Limited, Wipro Enterprises and Azim Premji Foundation have jointly committed Rs 1,125 crore to help India fight Covid-19.
Wipro Limited has committed Rs 100 crore, Wipro Enterprises Rs 25 crore and Azim Premji Foundation plans to spend Rs 1,000 crore towards various healthcare measures in the wake of the deadly virus outbreak, which is rapidly spreading across the country.
The company elaborated its plans in a detailed press release.
Azim Premji’s son and Wipro Chairman Rishad Premji also announced the same through Twitter.
Reliance Industries Limited
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has also pledged to support the people and government in fighting the novel coronavirus crisis. In addition, RIL has announced a Rs 500 crore donation towards PM-CARES.
Earlier, it announced via a press release that it has set up a dedicated 100-bedded centre at Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
RIL has donated Rs 5 crore each to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. It also said it will make one lakh masks daily for medical workers.
Reliance Retail is also ensuring its outlets support customers by ensuring the availability of essential items.
Aditya Birla Group
The Aditya Birla Group has also committed Rs 500 crore towards tackling the Covid-19 crisis, the company announced in a press release issued a few days ago.
Out of the total amount committed, Rs 400 crore will be donated to the PM-CARES fund. The rest will be contributed to support the creation of additional hospital infrastructure to tackle the virus outbreak.
Rajashree Birla, Chairperson – Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, said, “Given the severity of the disruption, there is a compelling need for a multi-pronged response that includes financial and material support, healthcare assistance, and community responsibility.”
Paytm
Leading digital payments firm Paytm has pledged to contribute Rs 500 crore towards the PM-CARES Fund.
In a press release, the company said, “Paytm is seeking contribution for PM-CARES (Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund) on the Paytm app. The company is aiming to contribute Rs 500 crore to the PM-CARES fund.”
“For every contribution or any other payment made on Paytm using the wallet, UPI and Paytm Bank debit card, the company will contribute an extra up to Rs 10.”
The online payments firm has also launched several other initiatives to prevent novel coronavirus from spreading in India. The company has created a Rs 5 crore fund for innovators who are developing medical instruments or medicines to combat the virus.
Vedanta Resources Limited
Vedanta Resources Limited and Chairman Anil Agarwal contributed Rs 201 crore towards tackling the novel coronavirus pandemic.
While Agarwal had earlier pledged Rs 100 crore earlier, the company later announced Rs 101 crore donation to the PM-CARES fund.
The group has pledged 10 lakh meals across India to daily wage earners and set up isolation wards in seven states to help procure PPEs.
HDFC Group
With a commitment of Rs 150 crore to the PM-CARES fund, the HDFC Group also joined the fight against Covid-19.
HDFC Ltd Chairman Deepak Parekh lauded the efforts of state governments and Centre and said the amount was to show its support to the battle against the deadly virus.
Several public banks have also made contributions towards the PM’s Covid-19 relief fund.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently thanked PSBs for contributing Rs 430 crore towards the PM-CARES fund.
Larsen & Toubro
Engineering major Larsen & Toubro has also donated Rs 150 crore towards the PM-CARES fund apart from earmarking Rs 500 crore in a fund for supporting 1.6 contract workers by continuing to pay their salaries.
Commenting on the situation, AM Naik, L&T Group Chairman, said, “We are helping India’s fight against Covid-19 by way of immediate funding, and through a range of welfare initiatives including converting our training schools into isolation centres.”
Infosys Foundation
The Infosys Foundation has committed Rs 100 crore towards fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic. Of the total amount, Rs 50 crore has been contributed to the PM-CARES fund.
The rest will be used to support hospitalisation capacity for treatment, especially for the poor. It will also provide ventilators, testing kits, and personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, and other protective gear for frontline health workers.
Sudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, said, “These are unprecedented times that require every section of the society to rise up to the challenge.”
“Infosys Foundation has always supported the needs of the country in difficult situations and we will continue to work with governments, non-profits, and healthcare institutions in their fight against this global pandemic.”
JSW GROUP
The JSW Group announced that it committed Rs 100 crore to the PM Covid-19 relief fund. Sajjan Jindal, the group’s chairman, said the group is committed to assisting the government to help tackle the crisis.
Jindal said each employee of JSW Group has committed a minimum of single day’s salary as a donation to the prime minister’s Covid-19 relief fund in the wake of the situation.
The company said it is also helping in sourcing medical equipment like ventilators apart from funding testing kits.
Bajaj Group
The Bajaj Group has committed Rs 100 crore to fight Covid-19 in India. It said in a press statement that everyone “needs to come forward” in the ongoing fight against Covid-19.
“We pledge Rs 100 Crore to the fight against Covid-19,” Rahul Bajaj, chairman of various Bajaj Group companies, announced.
Bajaj also said the group is working with the government and with over 200 NGO partners yo ensure resources reach those who need it the most.
The company said it will support upgradation of key healthcare infrastructure required to tackle Covid-19 and have identified some private sector hospitals to upgrade ICUs, procure additional equipment and consumables including ventilators and PPEs.
Adani Foundation
The Adani Foundation has also committed Rs 100 crore towards the PM-CARES fund as the country scrambles to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group, announced on Twitter that the Adani Foundation has contributed to the emergency fund. He added that the group will further contribute additional resources to support governments during these uncertain times.
Hero Cycles
Hero Cycles Limited, the country’s largest bicycles manufacturers, has pledged Rs 100 crore to help amplify relief efforts in the wake of the virus outbreak.
Commenting on the same, Pankaj Munjal, HMC Chairman and MD, said, “As an organization that stands for the principles of business with a humane approach, we are allocating Rs 100 crore as a contingency fund to help the entire ecosystem around our organization survive this crisis.”
“We are also reaching out to different state governments to offer all possible help.”
Godrej Group
The Godrej Group has also earmarked a fund of Rs 50 crore for community support and relief initiatives in the wake of Covid-19. Apart from that, it has also donated Rs 5 crore to the BMC in Mumbai and is also supporting it by supplying essential medical equipment like PPEs.
Mahindra & Mahindra
Anand Mahindra, the chairman of the group, announced several measures that the company is undertaking to support the government to battle Covid-19.
The company has started working on making ventilators for patients and that Mahindra Holidays resorts will be offered to government as temporary care facilities.
“Our Projects team stands ready to assist the Govt/Army in erecting temporary care facilities,” Mahindra said.
“The Mahindra Foundation will create a fund to assist the hardest hit in our value chain small businesses and the self-employed,” Mahindra added. He said he would contribute 100 per cent of his salary and gradually increase collections in the fund to assist small-scale businesses.
Uday Kotak, Kotak Mahindra Bank
Billionaire banker Uday Kotak has committed Rs 25 crore to the PM-CARES Fund. He made the announcement on Twitter and said, “It is time to protect Lives and Livelihood.”
Kotak Mahindra Bank also committed an amount of Rs 25 crore to the PM-CARES fund, taking the total to Rs 50 crore. Kotak Mahindra Bank has also committed Rs 10 crore support to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund towards relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Other companies
There are many other firms like the Piramal Group, Jindal Steel and Power and TVS Group, which have contributed Rs 25 crore each to help in tackle the Covid-19 crisis.
Kalyan Jewellers, a leading jewellery manufacturer in the country, has committed Rs 10 crore to tackle the pandemic.
Leading Indian conglomerate Max Group has also donated Rs 5 crore towards testing of underprivileged and for providing relief through NGOs. The group has also started multiple initiatives including donating sanitisers and masks
DCB Bank, a private scheduled commercial lender, has committed Rs 1 crore as part of CSR for intervention and measures to manage the outbreak of Covid-19 in India.
Several other firms are chipping in to help the government and citizens to fight the coronavirus outbreak through other means as well.
Many firms are utilising their factories and production lines to manufacture alcohol-based sanitisers, masks and other equipment to help frontline health workers. Other firms are ensuring that there is no stop in essential services to help citizens amid the lockdown.
Though a major economic challenge awaits businesses in India after the Covid-19 pandemic subsides, their contributions will significantly help in containing the extent of the outbreak.
IndiaToday.in has plenty of useful resources that can help you better understand the coronavirus pandemic and protect yourself. Read our comprehensive guide (with information on how the virus spreads, precautions and symptoms), watch an expert debunk myths, check out our data analysis of cases in India, and access our dedicated coronavirus page. Get the latest updates on our live blog.
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