Google’s Sundar Pichai, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella pledge support for India’s fight against Covid

Two major US-based technology companies — Microsoft and Google — led by Indian American chief executives have pledged to support India in the face of a massive second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic raging across the country.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on Monday that it has pledged ₹135 crore for medical supplies and organisations supporting high-risk communities.

“Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. Google & Googlers are providing ₹135 Crore in funding to @GiveIndia, @UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information,” Pichai wrote on microblogging platform Twitter.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has assured of aid in relief efforts and purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices.

“I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the US government is mobilising to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices,” Hyderabad-born Nadella tweeted.

The second Covid-19 wave has left hundreds of people dead as states struggle to deal with increasing caseloads amid a creaky hospital infrastructure. A shortage of oxygen supplies for patients in cities such as Delhi has also forced the government to import and move industrial production of the commodity towards medical needs.

Google India country chief Sanjay Gupta said in a blogpost that it would support local governments during the crisis.

“Our Google community and their families are feeling the devastating impact, too. We’re asking ourselves what more we can do as a company to ensure people get the information and support they need to keep their families and communities healthy and safe,” Gupta wrote.

Google has announced ₹135 crore ($18 million) in new funding for India. This includes two grants from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, totalling ₹20 crore ($2.6 million).

The first will go to GiveIndia to provide cash assistance to families hit hardest by the crisis to help with everyday expenses. The second will go to Unicef for urgent medical supplies, including oxygen and testing equipment, to where it is needed most in India.

It also includes donations from Google’s ongoing employee giving campaign — so far more than 900 Googlers have contributed ₹3.7 crore ($500,000) for organisations supporting high-risk and marginalised communities, Gupta said.

On Sunday, Amazon India also said it had joined hands with ACT Grants, Temasek Foundation, Pune Platform for Covid-19 Response (PPCR) and other partners to urgently airlift over 8,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 BiPAP machines from Singapore.

All the organisations are working closely with the government to expedite the entry of these oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines into the country, it said.

“In time of severe Covid-19 impact, we stand firmly with India, deploying our global logistics network to procure and urgently airlift oxygen concentrators, while exploring other ways to help,” Amazon India CEO Amit Agarwal wrote on Twitter.

Source Link