Indian manufacturer JK Tyre & Industries (JK Tyre) is supplying over 10,000 workers and migrants across every region in India with food supplies and critical care items in the wake of the global coronavirus outbreak. JK Tyre is collaborating with local NGOs to extend its support to include government officials, police departments and government hospital employees by providing them necessities such as packaged food and drinking water and safety materials, masks, soaps and hand gloves.
JK Tyre has also set up health camps in at least 25 villages in the vicinity of its manufacturing plants. These will conduct first-level screening for COVID-19 symptoms among its villagers. While isolation wards have been created near the plants and infrastructure support is being provided, a corona task force will be in place to undertake measures for supporting the needs, health and well-being of colleagues, partners, and their families in identified COVID-19 hotspots; initiatives like virtual training sessions and interactive webinars with medical experts will be organised as well.
JK Tyre is further responsible for conducting awareness drives for around 5,000 Indian truck drivers, suppliers and vendors. Similarly, the company has created awareness about safety precautions in more than 150 villages about the coronavirus through door-to-door visits, banners and posters at prominent locations and public address systems. It has even fumigated nearby villages covering more than 25,000 people and distributed more than 20,000 hand sanitisers and masks to those in need.
Following a recent announcement of a 15-25% pay cut for its senior management, Raghupati Singhania, Chairman and MD of JK Tyre commented, “The world has become as one in its efforts towards arresting the spread of COVID-19 – while we are ensuring the safety of our employees, there is a large section of society that remains deprived of basic facilities.”
“We are humbled to play our part in the relief efforts aimed towards the marginalised communities,” he added.