Airtel Announces Measures to Shield Over 80 Million Low-Income Mobile Customers from Impact of COVID-19 Crisis

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s largest integrated telecommunications company announced special measures to assist low income group customers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

• Airtel has extended the pre-paid pack validity for over 80 million customers till April 17th, 2020. All these customers will continue to get incoming calls on their Airtel mobile numbers even after the validity of their plan is exhausted.
• Airtel will also credit an additional Rs 10 of talk time in the pre-paid accounts of all these 80 million customers to enable them to make calls or send SMS and therefore stay connected with their loved ones.

The program has been kicked off, and these benefits will be available to users in the next 48 hours.

These 80 million customers effectively cover all under-privileged households on the Airtel Network. These special measures will particularly benefit migrant workers and daily wage earners who may have been impacted due to the nationwide lockdown to combat COVID-19. All other customers on Airtel’s network are already recharging their accounts using online platforms.

With these initiatives all Airtel customers will have unrestricted access to vital information from local authorities as also be able to connect with whoever they choose to.

Airtel’s network teams continue to work 24X7 to ensure that India’s digital backbone operates seamlessly.

Shashwat Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer, Bharti Airtel said “In this difficult hour of fighting off the threat of Covid-19, Airtel is committed to ensuring that all people remain connected without any disruptions. And for this objective, it is critical to take care of the under-privileged daily wage earners of our country, whose lives have been disrupted due to the lock-down”.

Columbia Pacific Communities Initiates Digital Campaign #PositiveLockdown to Help Seniors

With the nation observing a lockdown of 21 days to curb the spread of Covid-19, Columbia Pacific Communities has launched their two-week long digital campaign titled #PositiveLockdown to help seniors make the most of their time indoors by engaging in enriching experiences and thus steering clear of the sense of paranoia that is currently prevailing in the country.

They brand has championed the cause of positive ageing and shattered age-related stereotypes through many of its previous campaigns.  Columbia Pacific Communities believes that it is particularly important to keep seniors active during this lockdown period. The idea behind the #PositiveLockdown series is to help seniors stay physically and mentally active and healthy, so that they can glide over this rough patch.

Image may contain: textWith a fresh new idea every day, the campaign urges seniors to do everything that they haven’t found the time to do all this while. Whether it’s reading some of the most popular classics, discovering exotic spices, trying out Yoga or learning a new tune on their guitar, the campaign presents them the best ways to make these 21 days productive even while practising social distancing.

The aged are among the most vulnerable sections of the population as far as COVID-19 is concerned. Hence it’s No photo description available.not only important for them stay home to stay safe, but also ensure that they are positively engaged while they spend their time indoors. The campaign also showcases the benefits of living in a senior living community in these times of distress, with a robust support system taking care of every need of seniors.

Commenting on the campaign, Piali Dasgupta, Vice President – Marketing, Columbia Pacific Communities, said, “We understand that these are extraordinarily anxious times particularly for the senior members of our society who live alone. We believe that positive affirmations of any kind will help them get through this period.”

Heartfulness Institute Unveils Initiatives to Help Citizens to “Deal with Stress Due to Lock Down”

As the pandemic coronavirus spread across the world, Governments, Corporations and Individuals are all trying hard to grapple with the situation and having no parallel before are baffled by how to deal with the same. Uncertainty, Panic, Fear, Isolation are few of the constant feelings and emotions that one is being overwhelmed with not having enough insight to deal with the situation.

While the governments and medical community are working around the clock with those infected, doing their best to help them recover, prayers and wishes from are with them. For the rest, there may be a feeling of living in unnavigable times, that have been forced upon them due to isolation measures.

Heartfulness Institute has set up a Helpline to help talk the affected though the times and there will be global LIFECAST by Daaji, the guide of Heartfulness who will enunciate his thoughts on the situation and how to deal with it.The global LIFECAST By Daaji is scheduled on 2nd April 2020 at 5:30 pm IST. Significantly, Daaji will follow up his talk with a meditation session through the transmission process that makes Heartfulness Meditation unique and effective. Pranahuti ( life force ), centric to Heartfulness Meditation practice will be transmitted by Daaji as part of the meditation and those who wish to take part in the session should simply keep their eyes closed, sit in a comfortable posture silently without any external disturbance, focus on their heart and bring their attention to the divinity that exists in their heart.

Commenting on the initiatives Daaji said, “There is clear need for all of us to understand the situation as it stands today, demystify it and see it as it should be seen. There is too much information and too many changes in a very short time. How does one see it in a larger context of one’s life and what steps are needed to strengthen one’s ability to handle their feelings and emotions and thereby creating a contagion of positive emotions to deal with the situation together – The Theme of the LIFECAST”.

The LIFECAST can be accessed at -

http://www.Facebook.com/practiceheartfulness

http://www.youtube.com/c/heartfulness

The 24*7 Helpline ‘Voice That Cares’ launched today by Heartfulness Institute can be accessed by anyone by dialing the toll-free number 1 800 121 DHYANA (3492). Several hundred Heartfulness Trainers all specifically trained by Daaji for this purpose will be available round the clock to respond to the calls and help alleviate the emotional or mental distress the caller may be facing due to the uncertainty. Empathy is known to be one of the strongest healers and the trainers are well versed to navigate the callers through the distress they may be facing due to the ongoing lock down in the country.

Tata Motors Registered Domestic Sales of 11,012 Units in March 2020 and BS IV Inventory Near Zero

Tata Motors Limited today announced its sales in the domestic & international market, for the month of March 2020, which stood at 12,924 vehicles, compared to 74,679 units during March 2019.

Domestic - Commercial Vehicles:

Mr. Girish Wagh, President, Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “Cumulatively, commercial vehicle domestic sale for FY20 at 3,10,855 units was -34% lower than FY19. Retail was 16% higher than offtake for the entire year.  Domestic sales in March 2020 was 5,336 units, deeply impacted by the COVID 19 lockdown as well as the planned transition to BSVI. Retail sales was significantly ahead of wholesales (>300%). Almost all BSIV vehicles in the ecosystem have been retailed, however, some await registration which was halted due to the lockdown. This will be cleared in the window provided. Productionization of BSVI vehicles was on track and we have wholesaled the initial few BSVI vehicles.

Our focus is to secure the extensive business continuity plan including ensuring full support to all our customers in need, particularly those who are transporting the essential goods during this challenging period”

Total M&HCVs sales in FY20 including M&HCV Truck, Buses and International Business stood at 98,579 units compared to 1,86161 units in FY19.

Domestic - Passenger Vehicles:

Mr. Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “Vehicle sales was affected by the COVID 19 outbreak and the subsequent nationwide lockdown. However, the customer response to our newly launched models – the Altroz and the refreshed BSVI range is encouraging. Our BSIV vehicle stock is near zero in the entire network.

I would be handing over to Mr. Shailesh Chandra who I am sure will take the PV team and the business to the next level, by delivering an exciting customer experience and building on the strength of the NEW FOREVER product portfolio.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: In continuation of our drive to focus on retails and drive ecosystem viability, Tata Motors will henceforth stop reporting monthly wholesale numbers from next month (ie April 2020) and instead report quarterly wholesale and retail numbers. In the current volatile scenario, we believe this helps us take the right long-term decisions for the business, helps our dealers to focus on serving customers and helps our investors to focus on the long term drivers of the business and avoid needless short term volatility.

Cure.fit Joins the Fight Against COVID 19 with Contribution of Rs 4 Cr

As the fight against the novel coronavirus continues globally, integrated health care startup cure.fit, its management team and founders, have pledged to contribute Rs 4 Crore towards this cause.

cure.fit will contribute  Rs 2 Cr , the management team of company will donate Rs 1 Cr and founders Mukesh Bansal and Ankit  Nagori will contribute Rs 1CR  collectively in their personal capacity for the fight against COVID 19. 

These contributions will be given across PM Care Fund, ACT Grant Fund and other relevant charities who are fighting this in India .

These are unprecedented times and we all need to do our bit and join hands in this fight together. This is just a start. As a health and wellness company cure.fit will look at areas where they can support and have significant impact to society.

Salarpuria Sattva Group Takes Up Community Outreach Initiative for Needy During Lockdown

Salarpuria Sattva Group, India’s leading Property Development, Management and Consulting organization, has always been responsible in making a significant social impact to the communities it serves. Amidst the growing criticality due to COVID19 crisis, where the most affected are from the marginalized sections of the society, Salarpuria Sattva Group has extended its boundaries and taken the initiative of feeding the needy everyday till the end of lock down to help them survive in this challenging situation.

The group is taking the onus of cooking by themselves while adhering to hygienic precautions and distributing it in a systematic manner following the Govt. directives of social distancing. Amongst selected areas across the city, Old Airport Road (near Rajeshwari Theater), Royal Orchid Road (near Manipal Centre), Challaghatta, Nagasandra, Murugeshpalya, Jyothi Nivas College at Koramangala are the primary locations where the group has initiated food distribution. Police Stations at Jeevan Beema Nagar and Electronic City have extended help to the company officials to successfully implement this initiative.

In addition to this, the group has organized ration packets consisting of essentials like rice, wheat flour, oil, lentils, salt and other necessities for the next 10 days, aiming to touch the lives of 2500 migrant workers near Electronic City.

Greenwood High School, the educational entity of the group has also come forward to provide cooked food to more than 600 people at Varthur and other nearby localities.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bijay Agarwal, MD, Salarpuria Sattva Group said, “With the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 and announcement of 21 day lockdown by the Govt., income opportunities for people below the poverty line have stalled. As a responsible entity, we at Salarpuria Sattva Group pledge to help the marginalized section and provide them food till the situation demands. This is our humble effort to help the people in distress.”

Salarpuria Sattva Group wishes safety for everyone and hope the country comes out of the present crisis as soon as possible. 

TKM Sells 8022 Units in March 2020 As It Bids Farewell to Etios and Corolla Altis in India

Having successfully liquidated all its BS4 stocks even at the dealership level, TKM sold a total of 7023 units of BS6 vehicles to its dealers (wholesales) in the month of March 2020. To lessen the burden on its dealers, TKM withheld sales by 50% for the month of March 2020, just ahead of the 21 days national lockdown called upon by the Government of India.  The company also exported its last batch of 999 units of the Etios series last month thus clocking a total of 8022 units.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor had sold a total of 12,818 units in the domestic market in the month of March 2019. The company had exported 844 units of the Etios series in March 2019, thus clocking a total of 13,662 units in the same month last year.

Moreover, last month also witnessed the last batch of the Etios series as well as the Corolla Altis being manufactured at TKM’s plant in Bidadi, bringing an end to the iconic journeys both the models have enjoyed in India. This transition is a part of Toyota’s global product strategy to continue to service the ever-evolving needs of the customer through enhanced technologies and product offerings. However, the company will continue to cater to all Etios series & Corolla Altis customers’ needs through Toyota service outlets across the country along with the promise of availability of Toyota genuine spare parts for the discontinued models.

Commenting on the monthly sales, Mr. Naveen Soni, Senior Vice President, Sales and Service, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Even though the company has been long successful in liquidating all BS4 stock and transitioning into a 100% BS6 manufacturing facility, last month has been very challenging for us, both in terms of sales as well as production. With the spread of COVID-19 threat in various parts of the country followed by the 21 days national lockdown, the company’s priority was to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all its stakeholders and most importantly our dealers and their staff who are in the frontline. To bring this to immediate effect, our dealerships across the country were shut down beginning March 23rd along with a temporary halt of production at our plant in Bidadi.

We would like to reassure our dealer partners that they are the most important asset for us and we have been thinking about their sustainability. This pandemic has financially impacted all our dealerships across India. While the Government has announced several relief measures including moratoriums, we have also studied the fixed cost expenses of dealerships and have come up with a relief package called the COVID package to assist in maintaining liquidity to improve cash flow. The company is also planning towards ensuring proper sanitization of the dealerships once the national lockdown is over so as to ensure the safety of all our dealer staff as well as the customers who visit the outlets.

TKM wholeheartedly appreciates the measures taken by the Government and will continue to support them by implementing impactful initiatives to deal with this crisis.”