The spread of COVID-19 has disrupted lives, livelihoods and communities worldwide. In order to help with the basic survival of the less fortunate during the lockdown, regular medical monitoring, well-being, nutrition and accommodation is provided to them. It is imperative for everyone to come together during this time and extend all the support they can.
Swades Foundation
Swades Foundation joins the fight against COVID-19 and extends its support to migrant workers, Adivasi communities and medical personnel who are on the frontline battling the rising cases of coronavirus. Due to lack of opportunities, the Adivasi community’s survival depend largely on the wages they receive working as labourers. The onset of this pandemic has forced the community out of work and the Foundation is working tirelessly to provide meals and consumables to the community while also backing the authorities in healthcare supplies and medical equipment. The organisation is directly working with the Government of Maharashtra by assisting local authorities in three districts including Raigad, Nashik and Mumbai. Swades Foundation is directly associated with the District Collector’s office in Raigad and Nashik and the BMC in Mumbai.
Swades Foundation is actively involved in the relief work amid this pandemic and is providing meals to the impacted migrant workers, daily wagers and underprivileged across Mumbai. The Foundation will also help the medical fraternity who is fronting all odds in their endeavour to tackle patients who are suffering from the virus. Village Development Committees (VDCs) created by Swades Foundation in Raigad with the motive of sustainability in the village, is now reaching out to villagers to ensure basic necessities are being met in this time of crisis. With the support of donor partners, the Foundation aims to provide ‘grocery and daily essential kits’ to the daily wage earners and the Adivasi communities across Raigad district. These kits contain cooking items, groceries, pulses vegetables and toiletries, etc.
Zarina Screwvala, Founder and MD, Swades Foundation said, “In these unprecedented times, we salute those who have worked tirelessly to safeguard the country. We have directly started to mobilise food and basic essentials for the Adivasi communities in Maharashtra who have lost their means of livelihood, and with our implementing partner Project Mumbai we are providing daily meals to our doctors and police in Mumbai. We pledge our support to the Government of India to help combat the existing pandemic. We are deeply grateful for the generous support of our partners and donors like Standard Chartered Bank, Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd, Motilal Oswal Financial Service and DB Xento Systems Pvt to name a few.”
With help from Standard Chartered Bank, the Foundation will be able to reach out to the homeless and migrant worker population to supply more than 3,00,000 free meals including lunch and dinner across Mumbai. Support from Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd., is helping the Foundation to provide medical aid in the form of consumables, equipment, medical gear etc. to further meet the requirements of hospitals and healthcare workers. Swades Foundation is also backed by other donors such as Motilal Oswal Financial Service and DB Xento Systems Pvt. Ltd.
Parle Agro
As the coronavirus disrupts normal life and makes the country go into lockdown, food security has become a cause of concern amongst the most vulnerable communities. They need help and support now more than ever. In order to help with the basic survival of the less fortunate during the lockdown, Parle Agro Prakash Jyantilal Chauhan Foundation (PJC Foundation) has also stepped in to provide much-needed relief and support. They have extended access to medical, food and essential supplies to over four lakh people across the country.
Parle Agro PJC Foundation is doing everything in its might to limit the food crisis. This includes associations with food-service agencies like NRAI and Compass Group and NGOs like Helping Hands Foundation and KVN Foundation. Together they are offering around 50,000 meals to the less-privileged and Frooti tetra packs and Appy along with the meals. By aiding organisations like Samarpan and CARE India, PJC Foundation is also reaching out to the Mumbai Police and underprivileged families with Appy Fizz and packaged drinking water, Bailey. They have also contributed to the cause of healthcare by giving PPE kits for doctors (Personal Protection Equipment) – masks, full-body suits, gloves, sanitisers.
Commenting on the support, Alisha Chauhan Director, Parle Agro – Heading the PJC Foundation said, “Mitigating the problems around food security during this unprecedented crisis is the need of the hour. With the lockdown, a sizeable amount of people are severely stressed and anxious about basic meals. Therefore, we at PJC Foundation identified institutes and NGOs who are working tirelessly, ensuring people don’t go hungry or thirsty during this period. We believe ample nutrition via wholesome meals and intake with plenty of fluids is the best way to build immunity against COVID-19.”
Speaking on the support, Juggy Marwaha, CoFounder, FeedMyCity, KVN Foundation said, “We are able to serve people in need because we are supported by people who care. Parle Agro and our donors have proved that companies have hearts and I firmly believe that is what will get us through this crisis.”
Fujifilm India
Fujifilm India Private Limited, a pioneer in imaging technologies, has pledged its commitment and contribution towards aid for the unprecedented crisis caused due to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.
The company has announced the supply of 200 N95 respiratory and surgical face masks along with 40 PPE kits to healthcare professionals at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh. To combat the spread of the disease, Fujifilm is providing these essential preventive healthcare utility (PPE) kits to doctors, which include Surgeon Gown, Face Mask, Gloves, Preventive Eyewear, Hood Cap and Shoe Cover.
Commenting on this, Haruto Iwata, Managing Director, Fujifilm India Pvt. Ltd. said, “We all are witnessing an unprecedented and difficult time of our lives due to COVID-19 global pandemic. We are committed to working together with the people of India in this hour of difficulty, we have introduced these measures to ensure adequate protective equipment and masks are available for healthcare specialists and associated workforce present on the front lines. At Fujifilm, we believe it’s time for all of us to come together and protect the humanity by acting responsibly and by doing what we can to prevent further spread and avoid disruptions from the COVID-19 virus.”
In addition, the company is installing Computed Radiology, Digital Radiology systems and imagers across isolation wards at hospitals to ensure effective monitoring and controlling the disease outbreaks. These technologies will empower clinicians to improve efficiency and expedite the early diagnosis of the disease.
Hikal
Hikal Limited, a preferred long-term partner for leading global life sciences companies, announced a donation of Rs One Crore to the PM-CARES Fund to aid the government’s initiatives towards combating and overcoming the spread of the deadly coronavirus in India. The company has also announced that each of its employees has come forward and voluntarily pledged their one-day salary towards the CM’s Relief Fund, to which company would add sizable amount towards contribution to CM’s Relief Fund. The company has made noteworthy contributions towards the well-being of healthcare service providers, corporation staff, affected daily wage workers and the underprivileged community around the Hikal plants in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat.
Kumaar Priyaranjan, President – Human Capital & CSR said, “We at Hikal, believe that the community is a key constituent of the nation’s growth. We have always actively been involved in the well-being of the less fortunate in our society. Through Srijan, we are committed to participating in combating the deadly COVID-19 crisis that has disrupted economic activity and impacted livelihoods through direct involvement by contribution to the PM-CARES Fund, CM Relief funds as well as with partnering NGOs, government agencies towards the wellbeing of healthcare service providers, corporation staff, affected daily wage workers and the underprivileged community around the Hikal plants in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat.”
In addition to contributing to the PM-CARES Fund and CM Relief Funds, Hikal is taking various measures to contain the spread of the virus in Maharashtra, which is a growing concern with the growing number of cases being reported each day. With an aim to support the Ministry of Health and the Government of Maharashtra, Hikal has procured 10,000 surgical masks and 2,500 body-suits, a critical requirement for healthcare providers working in hospitals across the state. Hikal has also helped procure 600 PPEs for the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) in alliance with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) which will be used by healthcare providers and TMC staff at the forefront of this battle.
While supporting the government and healthcare providers is critical, the interest and well-being of daily wage workers is also a prime concern for Hikal. With business activities discontinued, daily wage workers and staff in unorganised sectors have been severely impacted with income sources being disrupted. For the same, Hikal has partnered with International Association of Human Values (IAHV) to provide ration kits comprising of essential grains, oil, condiments, toiletries) to 1000 affected households residing in the slums of Kalyan, Dharavi and Borivali. Hikal has also partnered with Goonj with ‘Rahat Kits’ which will cater to 250 daily wage worker’s immediate material needs. Additionally, over 450 families in the slum areas of CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai have been supplied with groceries which will last them for a period of 10 days. Thereafter it would be replenished as needed.
Hikal is taking utmost care of the safety and wellbeing of the community in and around the plant locations. Hikal has distributed 1,100 masks and 400 litres of sanitisers through MIDC to the Pune district hospitals. In collaboration with the Hinjewadi Police, they have taken up relief work for the migrant labourers. In Jigani, Hikal has distributed 500 bottles of hand sanitisers to the nearby villages, Gram Panchayat and local police stations. The company has provided 3,000 kgs of rice, 500 kgs of pulses to be used by the local DCP office for the underprivileged villagers as well as the poor and needy in the vicinity. Hikal has contributed 12,500 kgs of wheat to three villages – Umarwada, Panoli and Sanjali as well as 2,100 litres of sanitising liquid in Gujarat. 400 families in Taloja have been provided with grocery kits in and around Taloja MIDC area.
Hikal is spearheading several projects to make a positive contribution to the lives of underprivileged people and those who at risk or impacted by the deadly COVID-19 virus.
IndusInd Bank
IndusInd Bank has been working with the government and its agencies across several States as well as at the national level, in their efforts to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. IndusInd Bank has committed Rs. 30 Crore towards this cause and is monitoring the requirements closely.
As part of the commitment, the Bank has already supplied relief materials such as face masks, hand sanitisers and gloves to the affected areas to combat the Corona Virus pandemic. The Bank is also working on facilitating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for medical officials on duty.
The Bank has been given a mandate of opening an account towards the collection of contributions towards PM-CARES Fund.
L’Oréal India
L’Oréal India announced its initiatives to support the country during the COVID-19 outbreak. This commitment is made in addition to its global Solidarity Program which includes a donation to non-profit organisations. The company has been working on a multi-pronged initiative to augment the ongoing efforts of the central and state governments, the healthcare fraternity and citizens to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amit Jain, Managing Director, L’Oréal India said, “L’Oréal India stands in solidarity with the healthcare community and the government in supporting relief efforts against COVID-19. We consider it our responsibility to use the resources available to us in supplementing and contributing to the collective efforts made across the country. Our initiatives are in recognition of those who are at the frontline, working to contain the pandemic, and those most afflicted by it.”
#1 Supporting the health and safety of healthcare professionals vulnerable sections: L’Oréal India’s operations team will be distributing over 60,000 litres of alcohol-based hand sanitisers in 100 ml, 340 ml and 640 ml bottles, to help overcome the shortage of the product. These sanitisers will be donated to public health institutions, police forces and NGOs, who are at the forefront of the fight against the virus. In addition, the company is also planning to collaborate with Primary Healthcare Centres around its manufacturing facilities in Baddi in Himachal Pradesh and Chakan in Maharashtra to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to their medical personnel.
#2 Supporting communities that need it the most: L’Oréal India will also provide food and essentials to migrants and their families in Baddi, Chakan, Mumbai, Gurugram and Bengaluru, through its partnership with NGOs ActionAid and Nirmala Niketan.
#3 Showing our appreciation: As a mark of appreciation, L’Oréal India will donate care packages to healthcare workers who are tirelessly and selflessly working to end this pandemic. It will also channelise the support of its employees through a donation drive towards the PM-CARES Fund and will be matching all contributions with a corporate contribution.
Schwing Stetter
The current global COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the migrant workers from other states, working in Tamil Nadu’s industrial facilities. As most factories are grinding to a halt, millions of such workers are left vulnerable. In an effort to protect their workers during this lockdown; and prevent a massive exodus to their respective states that may result in a rise of the number of cases, Schwing Stetter India (SSI), one of the country’s leading concreting equipment manufacturer, has taken complete responsibility for the health and well – being of its migrant workforce during this lockdown.
Workers in the company’s facility are continuously provided with basic amenities like food, accommodation and medical treatment. This workforce also includes truck drivers who had visited the facility and became a part of lockdown. Schwing Stetter India continues it’s on-ground effort to ensure that these workers remain medically monitored, nourished, and morally motivated to fight the unprecedented challenges brought by the Global pandemic.
The company is currently laying focus across three broad areas of support that they have prioritised:
Continuous medical monitoring of the workers by expert doctors every few hours. The workers are checked consistently for COVID-19 symptoms and are provided with testing kits, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like masks, and other protective gear.
They are ensured regular access to food and nutrition during the course of the lockdown so they don’t bear the adverse economic impact of the crisis.
The accommodation facility has been set up with 625 beds to help prevent cross-contamination and control infection.
Speaking about the company’s efforts, V.G.Sakthikumar, Managing Director, Schwing Stetter India said, “Migrant workers have always contributed to our infrastructure industry. SSI has always believed in supporting the needs of its workers during times of crisis. We are very happy to take care of our construction workers by providing them with all the basic amenities, and support them to overcome the challenges of the lockdown and fight against COVID-19 crisis. We are thankful for getting all this done by our contractors at the construction site. The entire SSI team stands with the Nation in this hour of crisis and will do everything as a company, to help win this joint battle. All our efforts will be targeted towards ensuring that the right resources reach our migrant workers from other states who need it the most. We hope that our small contribution will help sustain their families during and after the current lockdown and hopefully endure this crisis together.”