With India reporting 341 positive cases of coronavirus on Sunday, many epidemiologists are of the opinion that India may just be entering the Stage three of transmission. Cases are likely to increase manifold in the coming months. And as the public health emergency threatens to hamper the country's healthcare system, businessman Anand Mahindra has come forward to provide aid to the medical fraternity.
Even as India observed a 14-hour "Janata Curfew", the Mahindra Group chairman took to Twitter and wrote that there was an immediate need to create "scores of temporary care facilities" to deal with the crisis as well as ensure there was no scarcity of ventilators. He further added that Mahindra Group will "immediately begin work on how our manufacturing facilities can make ventilators".
Mahindra also added Mahindra Holidays was ready to offer its resorts as temporary care facilities and that its Project team was ready to assist the government and/or the Army in building temporary facilities.
—A lockdown over the next few weeks will help flatten the curve & moderate the peak pressure on medical care. —However, we need to create scores of temporary hospitals & we have a scarcity of ventilators. (2/5) — anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 22, 2020
—Our Projects team stands ready to assist the Govt/Army in erecting temporary care facilities. —The Mahindra Foundation will create a fund to assist the hardest hit in our value chain (small businesses & the self employed) (4/5) — anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 22, 2020
"The Mahindra Foundation will create a fund to assist the hardest hit in our value chain (small businesses & the self-employed)
—We will encourage associates to voluntarily contribute to the Fund. I will contribute 100% of my salary to it & will add more over the next few months. I urge all our various businesses to also set aside contributions for those who are the hardest hit in their ecosystem," Mahindra tweeted.
Mahindra's tweet comes after India lost another patient to COVID-19 with the death toll rising to six. India reported two more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, even as the railways announced suspension of all its passenger services from March 22 midnight to March 31 midnight to help check the spread of the virus. As per the health ministry, the total confirmed cases in India stood at 341.
Bihar also reported its first death due to COVID-19 on Sunday, as a man with a travel history to Qatar died at the AIIMS in Patna, hospital superintendent CM Singh said. Even as Indians observed self-isolation and social distance on Janata Curfew, Mahindra's tweet managed to bring cheer to social media.
Superb Sir 👍👍👍that's a leader who listens, accepts criticism and works on it.. Bravo 👍👍take a Bow.. Sir.. I wud like to donate to a mahindra Fund.. Plz tell us how to do — Buddha (@buzzerinmotion) March 22, 2020
Very noble gesture from you Sir. Many SMEs would be starved in this war against COVID. Your suppport would mean a lot for the ecosystem in which we operate. — SASI KIRAN LINGAM (@sasilingam) March 22, 2020
Tough times reveal individuals n org which r true foundation of the country like Tatas n Mahindras. Hopefully, this Sunday becomes a miraculous Sunday. — Rajiv Sharma (@rajivsharma39) March 22, 2020
That’s a really remarkable initiative from you Sir combating COVID 19 Pandemic Any sorg of Support to the govt will boost the moral of the govt in this difficult times..Appreciate your initiative.. — Maynk TheIndian. (@MayankDas2687) March 22, 2020