Counter COVID-19: TKM Extends Support to Healthcare Professional and Daily Wage Workers

In light of the overwhelming consequences being faced by the medical staff at hospitals and daily wage earners due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced to provide Personal Protective Equipment kits to the medical staff and public health workforce in the state of Karnataka. Further, the company will also distribute daily food rations and essential kits to daily wage workers through Government of Karnataka’s local district administration in Ramanagara near Bangalore. These initiatives are in continuation of TKM’s relentless efforts to counter the epidemic, making a key contribution to the Government’s fight against the epidemic.

The nation is facing an unprecedented public health emergency with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting several parts of the country. The doctors, paramedics and other hospital staff who are at the frontlines of the fight against Covid 19 are susceptible and require Personal Protective Equipment Kits to carry out their duties effectively. In this situation, in order to support the efforts of the Government, TKM is providing Personal Protective Equipment kits to Government Health Volunteers based on the requirement of the Government. The distribution of the Hazmat Suits will be executed in a phased manner wherein 1000 sets of the suits will be provided in Phase I followed by distribution of 2000 sets in Phase II. The 21-day lockdown announced by the Government to contain the spread of the virus has also had an impact on the lives of the daily earners across the country. In such uncertain circumstances and juncture of social distress, the company will also provide 1000 essential kits and food supplies to the daily wage workers, benefitting over 5000 members in the community. Each kit consists of 20 food items and essential.  TKM is in constant touch with the Karnataka Government and will continue to evaluate, adequately supplement existing initiatives as also suitably enhance the scope of its support in the fight against Covid 19. Additionally, to support the cause ICARE [TKM’s employee volunteerism platform] volunteers provided 27 boxes of food kits that supports around 30 families.

Sharing his thoughts on the initiative, Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head & Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Public Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility & Corporate Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “In these challenging times, the central and state Governments have put forth exceptional efforts to counter the COVID-19 crisis. At this hour of need, TKM as a committed corporate, is joining hands with the Government of Karnataka and persistently working with them to support the healthcare employees and daily wage earners in every possible manner. We truly appreciate the measures taken by the Government and encourage everyone to adhere to the guidelines given by them. We will continue to monitor the situation and extend support wherever needed to safeguard well-bring of the society.”

TKM has undertaken preventive several measures to safeguard the physical and mental health of its employees and their families by providing them with video consultation services. Earlier this week, TKM also announced unique sustenance packages for its dealer network, providing necessary assistance to the dealer partners to overcome the lockdown phase.

TKM has been intently observing the evolving situation and responding appropriately in accordance with guidance issued by the Government. The company will keep on watching the situation and take appropriate countermeasures in order to support the Government to the required extend and deal with contingencies that may arise in the future.

In Wake of Pandemic, Snapchat has Launched Range of Creative Tools, Features and Content for its Indian Community

SNAP CAMERA

Self-isolating workers around the world have been turning to Snap Camera to add some fun to their video meetings.

Fresh from Zoom background changes, office workers around the world are going a step further to add levity during this tough time and arrive in a new digital wardrobe every day, by using Snap Camera with Google Hangouts, Zoom and Teams. Furthermore, Snap has created a new 'Win From Home' section to the desktop application. Some examples shared by our community (1, 2, 3, 4).

As of Thursday 19 March, Snap Camera app downloads are up over 10X since the beginning of the month compared to the norm.

How to use Snap Camera in your favourite third party video chat applications:

●  First, download Snap Camera for PC or Mac at: https://snapcamera.snapchat.com/download/
●  Then, launch Snap Camera
●  Choose your Lens
●  Then simply select Snap Camera as your webcam device in your video chat application. (You may need to restart your application if Snap Camera doesn’t appear as an option)

NEW LENSES

Snap has introduced two new experiences that give Snapchatters more easily-digestible information on how to stay safe using augmented reality. The information shared are aligned with recommendations from the World Health Organisation

A new Snappable AR game lets you and your friends myth-bust some of the most common inaccuracies around Coronavirus and learn more about the facts.
A special lens which allows users to show that they are staying at home

WHO PARTNERED LENSES

Today we also have launched two new Snapchat lenses we worked on with the World Health organization that allow Snapchatters to share facts on how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that Snapchatters play a critical role in stopping the spread of the virus, and reliable information shared amongst friends is more important now than ever. They will be live in the carousel for 24 hours on 1 April and following will be live in Search on Snapchat and Lens Explorer.

NEW FILTERS AND STICKERS

Starting this week, Snapchatters in India will find stickers and filters they can use to encourage themselves and each other to stay home, stay safe, practice social distancing, wash their hands and work from home.

NEW BITMOJI

Bitmoji has always always been a fun and fast way to communicate visually with friends and loved ones, and new stickers help raise awareness about COVID-19 in a lighthearted, personal way in your messages. Bitmoji has released 6 stickers with friendly health reminders like “Keep Your Distance,” “Wash Your Hands!,”and “Stay Healthy, Helpful, and Calm -- with more on the way.

NEW CONTENT

Snap has always taken a proactive approach to ensuring Snapchatters have access to credible, fact-based information on their platform.

With an aim to highlight the most relevant and informative local Coronavirus content for the Snap community, Snap’s editorial and Strategic Partner Management teams are partnering with the local teams to curate, onboard and highlight the best in local language Coronavirus content.

To ensure every Snapchatter all over the world has access to credible information, Snap’s editorial team selected the partners and these partners adhere to guidelines that forbid spread of misinformation. Furthermore, each tile is checked by a moderation team.

Snap’s own news team is also regularly producing coverage and continuously updating it with tips and information about COVID-19, including Q&As with expert doctors, along with Stories reflecting how Snapchatters are faring as they work from home, learn from home, and are coping with closures of schools, restaurants, gyms and more.

Snap is working closely with the World Health Organization to ensure Snapchatters have all the latest information from the experts themselves. WHO publishes regular updates from their Official Account and Snap has collaborated with their team to develop custom content to answer questions from the Snapchat community.

Some examples of Indian partners who have been covering COVID related news over the past week include:

●      Brut India (Profile here) - who took a humorous look at the difference in how introverts versus extroverts are handling isolation, published a character-driven, short-form documentary on a patient in Italy who described what it was like to have COVID-19 and spoke with an Indian doctor about his experience working at a hospital in China battling COVID-19

●      NEWJ (Profile here) - who have reported on the World Health Organization praising India for the country’s efforts to help stop the spread of the virus

●      Pluc TV (Profile here) - who covered the story of a waste picker community in Delhi that was not getting water due to the lockdown and how they eventually got what they needed, travelled to Delhi to capture how people, especially daily wage earners and rickshaw pullers are affected by coronavirus, reported on the phenomenon of of fake news at this time, took a look at why it’s important for us to stay home and what it’s like to work from home and covered a personal experience from a member of their team who lives in Italy, insight into how things unfolded and what India can learn.

Punjab National Bank Now India’s Second Largest Public Sector Bank

Highlights

* United Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce merged with Punjab National Bank to create second largest Public Sector bank in terms of business
* The synergy from the amalgamation creates a globally competitive, next-gen bank, PNB 2.0
* Customer can now access specified inter-operable banking services

As notified by the Reserve Bank of India, the amalgamation of Punjab National Bank, United Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce has come into effect today, 1st April 2020, to create the second largest nationalized bank of the country - both in terms of business and branch network. The synergy from the amalgamation will create a globally competitive, next generation bank, PNB 2.0.

All nation-wide branches of United Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce will now function as Punjab National bank (PNB) branches while all customers, including depositors, will be treated as PNB customers. The amalgamated bank will have a wider geographical reach through 11,000 plus branches, more than 13,000 ATMs, one lakh employees and a business mix of over INR 18 lakh crore.

In the initial phase itself, PNB 2.0 will be offering specified inter-operable services through all branches and all platforms including Mobile and Internet Banking. To smoothen the customer transition, the Bank has appointed Bank Sathi at all branches/zones/head office (of all three banks) who will address customer concerns and assist them in choosing the right products and services. A robust Risk Governance mechanism has been set up to mitigate risks and make the banking experience secure and safe.

In terms of customer experience, PNB 2.0 will endeavour to be a true next-generation bank with state-of-art products and services, created and delivered by the most modern technology.

Commenting on the occasion, Shri CH. S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao, MD& CEO of Punjab National Bank said “We are honoured to be a part of this historic moment. The new amalgamated entity - built on the illustrious tradition of legacy, ethos and trust – will also be an advanced new generation bank offering diversified products and highly personalized services to our customers. The bigger geographical footprint will help us serve our customers more effectively and efficiently.”

About Punjab National Bank

Punjab National Bank, India’s first Swadeshi Bank, commenced its operations on April 12, 1895, from Lahore, with an authorised capital of Rs 2 lac and working capital of Rs 20,000. The Bank was established by the spirit of nationalism and was the first bank purely managed by Indians with Indian Capital. During the long history of the Bank, 7 banks have merged with PNB.

Bione Unveils India’s First Rapid COVID-19 At-Home Screening Test Kit

Bione has recently launched a rapid COVID-19 at-home Screening test kit and has established itself as the first healthcare company in India to achieve the feat. The easy-to-use kit displays accurate results within minutes, instrumental in the timely screening of the deadly virus. The at-home screening kit is available for sale on their platform bione.in after approval from the requisite medical regulatory authorities.

In a breakthrough development, the Biotech company has devised the screening kit for coronavirus which can provide respite from the impending fear of the contagion. The simple point-of-care home screening kit renders quick results, without having to step out in the wake of lockdown. It will foster timely detection of the disease while acting as a preventive tool for others in proximity to the user, by isolating the carrier immediately. The kit is priced between INR 2000-3000/- depending upon the global supply, to increase its affordability for the masses. Under normal circumstances, the ready-to-use kits can be received within 2-3 days of placing the order at their platform. An effective screening tool for mass screening, the organisation is also in talks to provide bulk orders for early detection.

COVID-19 Screening test kit is an IgG & IgM based tool which takes 5-10 minutes to deliver the results. Upon receiving the kit, the user is required to clean their finger with an alcohol swab and use the lancet provided to finger-prick. The cartridge provided reads the results from the blood sample thus obtained, within 5-10 minutes.

The products have been sourced from our worldwide CE and FDA approved partners and are brought to market after stringent quality controls have been ensured. The kits are approved by ICMR and will be deployed in the market after proper quality checks and assurance. The company is in the process of getting approval for more USFDA partners.

The organisation is well-equipped to supply 20,000 kits per week and intends to build its manufacturing facilities in the coming months to sufficiently cater to the high demand. Currently, the kits are experiencing a worldwide upsurge in demand especially from the US, Italy, Spain etc. due to lack of coronavirus testing solutions in the market. It is noteworthy that the screening is done at the patient's end, eliminating the need for a physical laboratory which helps minimise the contraction of COVID-19.

Bione was founded in 2019 in Bengaluru by Dr Surendra K Chikara, who is a world-renowned genomicist, and the first person to bring NGS sequencing in India. It is India’s first-and-only organisation offering personalised Genetic and Microbiome testing services. The organisation has the laurel of being India's first direct-to-consumer genetic and microbiome testing service and is actively working towards boosting preventive healthcare and increasing life expectancy in India. The company had earlier developed a Microbiome test kit to check gut dysbiosis and also genetic tests to predict susceptibility to contagious diseases such as COVID-19, based on their genetic makeup. The data analysed by proprietary Bioinformatics Bione Platform and results combined with tailored recommendations, are helpful in taking preventive measures and in fighting off coronavirus. The stand-alone COVID-19 Rapid At-Home Screening test kit is a reliable screening tool against coronavirus.

Irrespective of the results of COVID-19 Screening kit, Bione urges people to undergo a laboratory test if someone shows the symptoms of coronavirus. An immediate and thorough follow-up on the positive test results is required.

Speaking on the launch, Dr Surendra Chikara, CEO, Bione said, “We had been tracking the pandemic and pooled in a lot of time, resources and attention in our mission to develop a tool effective in curbing the outbreak. COVID-19 Home Screening test kit has emerged as a breakthrough product in such unprecedented times. By bringing down the result time, we are looking to make an impact and help India fight COVID-19. We strongly believe that the government's support is pivotal in leading a revolution against coronavirus.” 

OYO's Ritesh Agarwal to Forego 100% of His Annual Salary and Executive Leadership Team to Take Voluntary Salary Cuts

Highlights

* CEO of OYO, Ritesh Agarwal, to forego 100% of his salary for rest of the year effective Apr’2020
* With   Travel,   Hospitality   &   Tourism   sectors among the worst affected by COVID-19, OYOs entire executive leadership (CXOs) team takes a voluntary pay cut, starting at 25%, with many opting for an  additional  uncapped amount, and some going up to 50% to enable building the runway for the company

COVID-19 has impacted the global hospitality industry significantly with occupancies of various hotel chains being affected drastically. In this unprecedented and difficult period, Ritesh Agarwal, the Founder & Group CEO, OYO Hotels & Homes, has decided to forego 100% of his salary for the rest of the year. The company’s entire executive leadership team has taken a voluntary pay cut starting at 25%, with many opting for an additional uncapped amount, and some going up to 50% to enable building the runway for the company. This would be effective April 2020 and the entire company is standing together to tide over these times.

It has been a matter of pride for OYO Hotels & Homes that it has retained each and every single leader in the CXO group in the history of the company, and in a difficult time like this, the executive leadership has come together as one strong entity as true partners of the company.

The company management has also taken several other measures to ensure business continuity and is committed to the well-being of its OYOpreneurs. The company has assured that all employees in India, including ten thousand plus OYOpreneurs on payrolls and tens of thousands of OYO managed assets staff including lots of hotels which will open post lockdown will continue to receive their salaries and benefits without any interruptions during this unprecedented period of a countrywide 21-days lockdown.

Commenting on the development, Ritesh Agarwal,   Founder   &   Group   CEO  said,   “The current situation the world over is deeply concerning to each and every one of us. OYO is doing everything to support the world with its limited resources in this pandemic from making isolation centres to finding a safe place for first responders. Given the current business situation, which is unprecedented for our industry globally, I am foregoing 100% of my salary for the rest of the year. I am grateful to my leadership team, that have also taken pay cuts and support the company during these tough times. We at OYO stand committed towards the fight against COVID-19 and will try to do everything in our control to reach out and help people while also ensuring long term success of the company, and our ability to continue delivering on our mission to bring better living spaces for all, at the right prices, globally. ”

In line with the Government’s direction, OYO has taken a series of measures to accommodate frontline medical staff, aircrew, corporates, tourists, PGs as well as foreign nationals stranded in the nationwide lockdown.

The company is focusing on a two-pronged strategy to minimise the possibility of infection and maximise social distancing and hygiene. Certain hotels are being identified to partner with hospitals for setting up safe, pay per use quarantine facilities. Certain others are focused on providing safe shelter to local and foreign tourists and travellers who are stranded in cities owing to the lockdown.

OYO is in touch with various state governments as well as authorities to understand how some of its properties can be of assistance during this crucial period. Recently, OYO also partnered with Apollo Hospitals to offer sanitized beds and facilities in certain COVID-19  exclusive hotels it identified within its network in the proximity of Apollo Hospitals. The partnership will be activated in 6 cities namely, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata for the purposes of self-quarantine and isolation for suspected COVID-19  patients that require medical observation and supervision.

Additionally, the company has also reached out to corporates and is keen to support the lodging requirements of individuals who are at the frontline of India’s fight against Coronavirus through a combination of OYO Hotels or OYO LIFE offerings.

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.”