Various relief activities are ongoing as the nation rally together to provide as much help as possible to those bearing the brunt of the pandemic. It is gratifying to see the giving heart. A crisis brings out the worst and the best in people. This crisis has shown us something – that when we are willing to take a stand to make a good difference, we change lives and circumstances. Let us continue to display our compassion. Let us stand in solidarity with those who suffer the most. Yes, we are all affected by it. Most of us have to dig deep into our savings to sustain through this very difficult time, not really sure of how the future is going to be like. Let us fight this together. We can, and shall, overcome.
Wagh Bakri Tea Group
The Wagh Bakri Group salutes our nation’s frontline warriors. As a gratitude towards the frontline warriors who have been tirelessly working to keep us safe and healthy. Wagh Bakri Tea Group has contributed over Rs. 3.50 Cr. to the PM-CARES Fund and the CM Help Fund, and is also providing service by serving tea to various institutes, shelter homes, daily wagers health workers and police personnel, directly on the field.
The PM-CARES Fund receives over Rs Two Crore donated by the Wagh Bakri Tea Group. An additional Rs. 13 Lakhs has been contributed by the employees voluntarily along with the Group Board of Directors by donating their one day’s salary. The Group has also donated Rs. One Crore to the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Fund to help Gujarat, one of the worst affected States to fight and overcome the current health crisis.
Rasesh Desai, Managing Director, on this occasion said “My heartfelt gratitude to all the Indian COVID warriors, I am also thankful to our staff and employees who voluntarily put forward one day’s salary thereby accumulating Rs 13 Lakhs. the true meaning of “Wagh Bakri Riste Banaye” is embedded in history”.
Wagh Bakri Tea Group is also supporting a 550-bed COVID hospital built by the Indian Army in the cantonment areas of Ahmedabad, Jamnagar and Bhuj by donating PPE masks, gloves, disposable face masks and full-body protection kits worth Rs 30 Lakhs. As the consumption of Green Tea and Ice Tea is recommended to boost one’s immunity, the Group is distributing Green Tea daily to help boost the immunity of over 2,000 police and health personnel on duty in Gujarat at over 200 traffic checkpoints. Wagh Bakri teams are also distributing Green Tea across Gujarat and have distributed over 50,000 tea packs till now.
Wagh Bakri Tea Group’s Managing Director, Rasesh Desai said, “I am deeply stricken by this sudden pandemic that has hit our country. At Wagh Bakri Tea Group, we have always been the front-runner in standing shoulder to shoulder with the citizens and our customers whenever any calamity or crisis had hit the nation. That’s why in these testing times, we have further strengthened our commitment to social responsibilities to help our nation, and for the safety of human life and health.”
In addition to the financial contribution, the Group is wholeheartedly supporting the institutions and groups who have engaged themselves to serve the weaker sections of the society. The Group has contributed tea in thousands of food and ration kits distributed by Blind People Association (BPA) Ahmedabad, Vishv Umiya Foundation Ahmedabad, Punjab National Bank (Trans Yamuna Branch Delhi), Akshaya Patra (Mathura, U.P), Mathura Branch and Sri Gurunanak Sports Education Society, Bhatinda (Punjab) just to name a few.
The Wagh Bakri Tea Group is also supporting the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) by providing tea to approximately 3000 people staying at almost 30 different shelter homes in Ahmedabad.
Johnson Controls – Hitachi Air Conditioning India Ltd.
In its endeavour to support the Gujarat Government and to empower the medical fraternity in the fight against coronavirus, Johnson Controls- Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited has distributed 3900 masks to the Civil Hospital, Mehsana and Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Karan Nagar. Medical facilities and frontline warriors in Gujarat are working round the clock to fight the pandemic. They are at a higher risk of getting infected by the deadly virus. To keep our frontline warriors safe, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited has distributed N-95 masks, 414 masks and surgical masks to the medical facilities treating COVID-19 patients in the region.
The CSR team met with Dr H. N. Parmar who is the Chief District Medical Officer & Civil Surgeon at Civil Hospital, Mehsana and donated N-95 masks (1000 Nos.), surgical masks (2000nos.) and 414 (200 nos.) masks. Dr Parmar expressed his gratitude on behalf of the entire hospital facility. Civil Hospital, Mehsana is one of the few medical facilities in the region which is treating corona patients. With 50 beds and 300 staff, this hospital is fighting day and night against the pandemic.
In addition to this, the company donated N-95 (200 Nos.) masks and surgical masks (500Nos.) to the Primary Health Centre in Karan Nagar village.
A part of the company’s CSR initiative, this activity is one of many other activities the company has initiated to combat COVID-19. Recently, the company had introduced Mobile Primary Health Centre (PHC) through its fully kitted ambulance with two medical specialists and a paramedic which is travelling in the rural hinterland to address the medical needs of people at their doorstep thus mitigating the risk of exposing the elderly and pregnant women especially to the risk of COVID 19.
Gurmeet Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Ltd. said, “The COVID 19 crisis is by far the toughest challenge that mankind has faced and we need to fight harder for a safer future. As a socially responsible corporate citizen, we will continue to support India in fighting the COVID-19 disaster by contributing effectively towards ensuring the wellbeing of the citizens. We have dedicated our energies towards creating high decibel awareness around sanitisation and social distancing in rural areas and are also providing good quality protective masks to our corona warriors. On one hand, we are providing medical specialists in these areas to add strength to the local healthcare system and on the other hand, we are supporting our hospitals, doctors and other medical staff by providing them various specialised masks for their protection. It is a tough battle against an invisible enemy and we all have to contribute to the maximum of our potential for our future.”
The confidence-building within the community on the ability to protect self and others against COVID-19 has been the hallmark of the CSR Health initiative of the brand in this rural belt.
SBI Life
SBI Life Insurance, one of the most trusted private life insurers in India, launched a social media drive encouraging citizens to thank the healthcare workers who are tirelessly working on the front-lines of this battle against Covid-19. An extension of WE CAN, WE WILL! initiative, with an aim to ‘Protecting those who the Protect us’, the social media drive provides a unique platform for citizens to take part in Covid-19 relief effort while observing lockdown from their homes.
To ‘Protect those who protect us’ in this fight against the pandemic, one can log in to www.sbilife.co.in/WeCanWeWill and write an encouraging message to support the front-line healthcare worker. The users can submit the chosen message, download and share it on social media with #WeCanWeWill. The user-generated messages will be attached to PPE kits and delivered to the front-line healthcare workers on the ground.
Speaking about the initiative, Ravindra Sharma, Chief of Brand & Corporate Communication, SBI Life Insurance said, “When the entire country is in lockdown, the front-line healthcare workers continue to work under harsh conditions and rigorously fight the spread of Covid-19. As they walk the tightrope between the call of duty and personal safety, the nation looks up to their undeterred commitment in this battle against the pandemic. There is an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the healthcare workers, which the larger populace is raring to express. Recognising people’s need to thank the front-line healthcare workers, the ‘Protect Those Who Protect Us’ initiative provides a much-needed platform wherein one can send words of encouragement for the frontline warriors from the safety of their home. SBI Life commits not only to deliver this message to the front-line healthcare worker but also provide a PPE kit along with the message to ‘Protect Those Who Protect Us’.
He further added, “We hope our social media drive to ‘Protect Those Who Protect Us’ will collectively help us come together as a nation and boost the morale of our frontline health care workers who are working round the clock to contain the spread of Covid-19.”
HUL and Fullarton Distilleries
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has announced its partnership with Fullarton Distilleries to manufacture and donate 10 Lakh (one million) medical-grade sanitisers to doctors and nurses to support India’s fight against COVID-19.
Developed and manufactured by HUL’s Lifebuoy and Fullarton in just one month, this exclusive batch of sanitisers will be distributed through HUL’s network to hospitals and COVID-19 hotspots across the country.
Sharing details on the initiative, Sanjiv Mehta, Chairman and MD, Hindustan Unilever Limited said, “Doctors and medical workers are at the forefront of fighting this pandemic and we are committed to supporting them. We will be using our distribution network and partnerships to get the sanitisers into the hands of doctors, nurses and other workers especially in COVID-19 hotspots.”
Rajiv Thadani, Founder, Fullarton Distilleries said, “There is a shortage of hand sanitizers in the country and this is the fastest and the most effective way for us to cater to the surging demand. Our partnership with HUL is to consolidate and mobilize such essential products at maximum volumes in times when they are needed the most.”
In March, HUL committed INR 100 Crore towards helping India fight the COIVD-19 pandemic. As a part of this effort, HUL has rolled out many initiatives to ensure that citizens of India, have access to essential products such as soaps, sanitisers and toilet cleaners so that they can keep themselves and their families safe.
Veer Foundation
The lockdown due to Covid19 has seen Veer Foundation, a Ghatkopar-based Foundation is leading the way on various fronts. The foundation has organised mega sanitisation drive in more than 16,000 housing societies, hospitals, BMC Ambulances, offices and public transport vehicles since April 4, 2020.
The Foundation came out with this mega drive to bring a difference in society to protect the people and country from Covid19. The sanitation drive was successfully undertaken across Ghatkopar, Chembur, Kurla, Sion, Mulund, Bhandup, Vikroli, Dadar, Parel, Juhu, Vile Parle, South Mumbai, Malad, Kandivali, Borivali, Mira Road, Bhayandar and Powai. The entire cost of sanitisation equipment and the chemical used in sanitisation are provided free of cost by the Foundation.
The Foundation is very keen to expand this sanitisation drive to other cities like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bengaluru in the near future.
Even after lifting the lockdown, citizens of the country should continue to take precautions to not get infected with COVID-19. In this endeavour to contain the pandemic, Veer Foundation will continue sanitisation drive. Sanitation is the key in containing the virus and one has to sanitise their societies, hospitals, ambulances, offices and public transportation vehicles at regular intervals.
The members of the Foundation have followed all safety measures like wearing masks and gloves while sanitisation.
Commenting on the Foundations efforts, Nitin Sanghavi, Trustee said, “We strive to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Mumbai in specific and across India. In this endeavour, we had set out to help citizens of the country. Our fellow trustees and volunteers have been working tirelessly for the last two months driving awareness and sanitisation across Mumbai.
As you all are aware that Senior Citizens, differently-abled and the migrant workers had been badly affected during the pandemic. Veer Foundation has helped them by providing food for the last two months. The Foundation would like to assist our fellow citizens to fight COVID-19 so that we all can have a safe life and resume normalcy very soon. Let’s work together to make India free from Covid-19.”
Yuva Unstoppable
As various marginalised communities continue to reel under the effects of nationwide lockdown, country’s well-known NGO Yuva Unstoppable extends a helping hand to the sex workers and rehabilitated youth of New Delhi.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic in India, Yuva Unstoppable has supported thousands from vulnerable populations and frontline workers through hygiene and dry ration kits. On the whole, Yuva Unstoppable has distributed close to 25,000 ration kits to families of daily wagers and migrant labourers benefitting about 100,000 people. Additionally, 40,000 hygiene kits were distributed to police personnel under their ‘Unstoppable Police Project’ and 5000+ PPE kits to doctors and paramedical staff across India. Their fight against the global pandemic continues.
“As a responsible non-profit organisation upholding the cause of uplifting the poor and needful, we have been trying to respond to the ongoing crisis according to the need of the hour. We have been expanding our reach with each passing day not just in terms of the number of beneficiaries or geographic locations, but also in terms of the kinds of relief measures. From family essential kits consisting of basic grocery items to preventive kits and from food packets to personal protection equipment, we are determined to support the less-privileged and frontline warriors in every way possible,” says Amitabh Shah, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Yuva Unstoppable.
The fear of contracting the deadly coronavirus has dealt a big blow to the livelihood of sex workers. Reportedly, more than 50 per cent of them have fled to their hometowns from Delhi after facing difficulty in procuring even the basics like food and hygiene essentials. In addition to addressing the needs of this section, Yuva Unstoppable also joined hands with Delhi Commission of Child Rights Protection (DCPCR) to reduce crime rates triggered by hunger and poverty among the rehabilitated youth in the capital city.
In its efforts towards alleviating the sufferings of such at-risk population, the NGO is supported by many Samaritans, Delhi Police, North Delhi Municipal Corporation, and Karwaan Mission – a group of young, passion-driven volunteers committed to bringing about social change. All the activities from procurement of kits to distribution were undertaken while adhering to the prescribed norms of social distancing and personal protection. The dedicated team of Yuva Unstoppable also braved the unexpected extreme weather conditions – wind storm and rains in Delhi – in order to make lives a little better for these people in need.
“We are thankful to Yuva Unstoppable and all its kind souls for thinking about us and reaching out to us in these unfortunate times. Since the outbreak of this global pandemic, we have lost all our customers. We are very afraid and uncertain about our future and the present only seems to get worse day by day. But Amitabh Shah and his NGO came to us as a helping hand of God and we are glad about it,” shared a relieved beneficiary from Delhi’s Kamla Market upon receiving aid from Yuva Unstoppable.
