India, March 30, 2020: With the number of infected people rising exponentially during to the coronavirus pandemic, Corporate houses are extending their helping hand in fighting against this virus which has put India and the rest of the world in a standstill.
A look at the response from some of India’s Corporate giants:
The Godrej Group stands in solidarity with the people of India and the Government’s efforts to overcome the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, which is impacting the lives of millions of people, and countries across the globe.
To start with, the Group is earmarking a fund of Rs 50 crore for community support and relief initiatives in India. This is an initial outlay and will be supplemented over time. The fund will back some of the following initiatives underway focused on public health and essential supplies, as well as additional efforts in the months ahead.
Work has begun in providing medical equipment and protective supplies, relief work in Maharashtra, which is among the most affected regions in the country. This support will be extended to other States as well, buying and supplying medical equipment and protective supplies for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The Group donated Rs 5 crore to the BMC, donated 115 hospital beds to Maharashtra Government Hospitals and helped set up a 75-bed quarantine centre at the Seven Hills Hospital, Andheri.
Larsen & Toubro
Larsen & Toubro is committed to participating in Corporate India’s response to COVID-19 through funds, community welfare plans and through leveraging its expertise to offer assistance. Responding to the call given by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, the company will donate Rs. 150 Crore to the PM-CARES Fund.
It has also set aside an outlay of over Rs. 500 Crore per month to support about 1,60,000 contract workers by continuing to pay their wages during the ongoing lockdown and providing them with food and basic amenities at labour camps while maintaining the COVID-19 prevention and containment protocol.
Commenting on the company’s preparedness to fight this pandemic, AM Naik, Group Chairman, Larsen & Toubro, said, “L&T has always stood by the nation in its hour of need. 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 Centers. We are also leveraging our engineering and construction expertise to help the authorities deal with the crisis.”
LNJ Bhilwara Group
LNJ Bhilwara Group Company has donated Rs.5.51 crores to the COVID-19 relief funds. The company has decided to bifurcate the amount as Rs. 2 crore to the PM-CARES fund, Rs.1.5 crore to the Madhya Pradesh CM Relief fund, Rs.1.01 crore to the Rajasthan CM Relief fund, Rs.50 lakh to the Himachal Pradesh CM Relief fund, and Rs.30 and 20 lakhs to the Bhilwara and Ajmer Local DM Relief fund respectively.
Promoters of the group companies (HEG Ltd and RSWM Ltd) have decided to undertake a 50 per cent cut on their basic salaries for the year 2020-21. All guest house facilities of RSWM Ltd. around Bhilwara district totalling 80 beds have been offered for quarantine procedures to local authorities.
Ravi Jhunjhunwala, LNJ Bhilwara Group, said, “We stand with the Government and the people in this crisis and will extend our entire support to help combat the pandemic.” He further added, “The Company through Jawahar Foundation is working on the ground for food packet distribution and is working directly in the districts of Bhilwara and Ajmer providing food relief packages to underprivileged families.”
IIFL Group
Financial Services conglomerate, IIFL Group is contributing Rs 5 crores to the PM-CARES Fund instituted by the Government of India.
Nirmal Jain, Founder, IIFL Group said that besides the contribution, the company is engaging its 18000+ employees as well to mobilise more support for this cause. Mr Jain appreciated the concerted efforts by the Central and State governments and reiterated that it is through collective community efforts that we could overcome this situation. He expressed his concerns about the health risk the frontline medical staff faces and the impact of COVID-19 on the Indian economy and the livelihood of millions of people and promised to continue supporting the efforts of the government in fighting the coronavirus outbreak.
Cigniti Technologies
Hyderabad-based Cigniti Technologies, a leader in Software Testing Services, has contributed Rs. 50 Lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to support the Government of Telangana to tackle the unprecedented situation caused by COVID-19. Cigniti’s Chairman & Managing Director, C V Subramanyam, handed over the cheque to KT Rama Rao, Minister of IT, Municipal Administration & Urban Development and Industry & Commerce, Govt. of Telangana.
Adani Foundation
Gautam Adani: “Adani Foundation is humbled to contribute Rs. 100 Cr to the PM-CARES fund in this hour of India’s battle against COVID-19. Adani Group will further contribute to support the governments and fellow citizens in these testing times.”
Motilal Oswal Ltd
Motilal Oswal, “At this time when all of us need to help our fellow Indians in whatever way we can, we pledge to contribute Rs 5 crore to the PM-CARES Fund. Let’s all save lives and fight the #COVID19 crisis together. Health is Wealth.”