In a major announcement by Bajaj Auto, the automaker has pledged Rs 100 crore to fight the Coronavirus outbreak. India is severely affected by the COVID 19 virus which has taken dozens of lives plus infecting hundreds of people. The country is currently under a lockdown till 15th April 2020 affecting the automotive industry with closure of factories, dealerships and delay in launches. Bajaj Auto will be working closely with the Indian government and will make its strong network of 200 plus NGO available for fighting the pandemic. The Indian automaker will be supporting the up-gradation of healthcare infrastructure in the IT city of Pune.
Bajaj has identified hospitals be it the private or the government for revamping of ICU’s and procurement of crucial medical equipment like ventilators. Personal protection equipment for healthcare workers, doctors, nurses and other medical staff would also be purchased by Bajaj while setting up isolation units and testing facilities. Pimpri-Chinchwad and rural areas of Pune are the key focus areas of fund utilization by Bajaj. The company is working closely with organisations in helping the underprivileged community such as daily wage workers, homeless and street children. It will offer support to initiatives such as food supply, shelter while providing access to sanitation and healthcare.
Bajaj has identified the reverse migration of people from cities to villages in the wake of Coronavirus. The focus will be on improving village community awareness on Coronavirus and COVID-19. It will boost the medical and healthcare infrastructure in rural areas like isolation facilities and diagnostic centres.
Prior to this, Bajaj Auto has also announced the suspension of production at its manufacturing facilities to prevent further spread of the coronavirus outbreak. The manufacturer is also implementing work from home for office-based staff, while physical meetings and all travel for employees, including international and domestic travel are now cancelled. In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange, Bajaj Auto announced that manufacturing facilities will be shut down till March 30, 2020.