From CRED to Google, here’s how brands are helping India fight against COVID-19

• As the country continues to grapple with the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, healthcare and frontline workers are racing against time to contain its spread.
• In this fight against coronavirus, a few brands have stepped forward to help our country deal with the crisis.
• From amplifying requests on Twitter to donating money to government bodies, here’s how brands are trying to do their bit.
• This is a regularly updated list to track how brands are helping India.

As of April 27, there are 17.3 million+ active COVID cases in India. Several health institutions have run out of beds and oxygen supply and have kept the patients on a long waiting list. Our social media feeds are full of appeals for help, looking for plasma donors, oxygen concentrators or ICU beds.

As India’s healthcare system continues to be under pressure, citizens have taken to Twitter to help each other out during these testing times. Indian corporations, multinational brands and young home-grown start-ups have also stepped forward to do their bit and help the country survive this phase.

Tech giants

Tech giant Amazon has come forward to donate 10,000 oxygen concentrators to India. Google's Sundar Pichai has announced that the company will be donating a relief fund of Rs 135 crore to UNICEF and the non-profit Give India for medical supplies, supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information about the deadly virus. Microsoft’s Satya Nadella said that the company will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices.

FMCG

FMCG Giant P&G announced that it will contribute towards the vaccination of over 5 lakh Indian citizens by pledging Rs 50 crore in partnership with the government and local authorities in India. It will also continue to extend its support to the broader community through the donation of products, in-house manufactured masks and sanitizers especially to aid frontline and essential workers who are tirelessly working to combat the spread of COVID-19. The company will continue to leverage its advertising and brand voice responsibly to increase awareness on health, safety and hygiene measures among consumers and the community.

FMCG giant Amway is donating US $1 million (approx. Rs 7.50 crores) to support the COVID relief efforts. The donation amount will be used to facilitate COVID-19 resources such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators among others, to accelerate the COVID 19 relief work.

Mankind Pharma also pledged to donate a sum of Rs 100 crore for the families of deceased doctors, police officers, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers.

Marico Limited has donated sanitizers worth Rs 1 crore across various cities to frontline professionals including government organisations, police, hospitals and health staff. The distribution of these kits has already begun in Tamil Nadu and the FMCG giant will continue to expand its reach to include more beneficiaries across multiple states.

Start-ups

Delivery platforms Zomato and Dunzo have assured help to India as it continues to fight a ravaging crisis. Foodtech platform Zomato and its NGO Zomato Feeding India rolled out a priority delivery feature for Covid-19 emergencies, including oxygen, Chief Executive Officer Deepinder Goyal announced on Twitter. It is aiming to raise Rs 50 crore. Dunzo has opened its social media platform to those who need their request amplified.

CRED’s Founder Kunal Shah announced that the platform will be sourcing 1 billion litre of oxygen for India. In association with NGO Milaap, every 10,000 CRED Coin will go towards 1,000 litre of oxygen.

Another payment platform Paytm claims to have sourced supplies of different sizes of oxygen concentrators and is raising ₹10 crore to donate them to health institutions across the country. It has already collected ₹1 crore.

CoinDCX, an Indian cryptocurrency exchange platform, allows you to donate your cryptocurrencies. It is donating the collected funds to Help Uday Foundation to provide Care Kits to Fight Coronavirus and Donate Dry Ration to families struggling with hunger in Covid Second Wave.

International brands

Mobile brands Xiaomi and OnePlus have also come forward to help ease the burden off India’s healthcare system. Xiaomi has pledged Rs 3 crore for relief efforts and OnePlus is amplifying the appeals of those facing COVID-19 emergencies and seeking help on Twitter. Vivo, another smartphone brand, announced donation of Rs 2 crore to aid COVID-19 relief efforts and help acquire Oxygen concentrators.

The Walt Disney Company and Star India have pledged financial support of Rs 50 crore towards the ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts in India. The proceeds will be utilized to aid relief efforts and towards the procurement of critical healthcare equipment, including oxygen concentrators, BiPAP, and ventilators along with setting up oxygen plants across hospitals.

Indian corporations

The Tata Group announced that it is importing 24 cryogenic containers to transport liquid oxygen and help ease the oxygen shortage in the country. Its subsidiaries like Tata Steel are also supplying 200-300 tons of Liquid Medical Oxygen daily to various State governments and hospitals.

Honda India Foundation will be setting up temporary COVID Care isolation centers and Oxygen Production Plants. A 100-bed facility is being created at Honda’s warehouse facility in Manesar in Haryana and another 50-100 bed facility at the Government Girl School in Tapukara, Rajasthan. These temporary COVID-19 care centers are expected to commence operation from May 17 onwards. Similar isolation centers are being explored in other locations. The foundation is also working with State Governments to set up Oxygen Production Plants in the districts of Kolar (Karnataka), Gautam Budh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), Alwar (Rajasthan) and Manesar (Haryana).

Last but not the least, Reliance Industries is donating 100 tonnes of oxygen to worst-hit COVID states in India.