CoVID-19 and the ongoing lockdown has created unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis bringing a sharp focus on the plight of migrant workers across the country. As the pandemic evolves, 3M India has extended its efforts to help the vulnerable communities build resilience to brave its impact on their lives. In this direction, the US-based parent company has announced that they will provide USD 300,000 contribution from 3Mgives. 3Mgives’ mission is to improve every life through innovative giving in education, community and the environment. 3Mgives has made a donation of USD 5Mn to United Way Worldwide’s COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund to support vulnerable populations. Out of the total contribution, USD 300,000 has been allocated to India. Leveraging its partnership with United Way India, 3M will use these funds to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in government hospitals in hotspot areas, covering critical medical equipment and general hospital upgradation.
3M’s employees in India were keen to support the nation’s fight against the pandemic, which saw them voluntarily contributing towards relief funds for Karnataka and Maharashtra. To enhance this gesture, the company matched employees’ contributions, which was donated to the PM Cares fund.
In other COVID response activities, 3M India’s activities are being guided under three considerations-
1. most affected geographies- dividing support to vulnerable communities across the top five affected states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi NCR
2. vulnerability of communities- allocation towards the migrant workers, hospitals and non-healthcare frontline workers such as police and sanitation workers and
3. critical needs of communities– to focus on hunger and food security, healthcare infrastructure and safety of frontline workers.
Elaborating on the initiatives, Mr. Ramesh Ramadurai, MD, 3M India said, “Since the outbreak, we have been closely working with various government agencies and hospitals to ensure our personal safety products are available for medical, healthcare and other frontline workers. The USD 300,000 fund allocation is another testament of 3M’s global commitment to supporting our communities and improving lives. Through United Way of Bengaluru, we have identified a need for hospital infrastructure critical for COVID-19 treatment in vulnerable areas of several cities. We have decided to allocate 100% of the grant towards strengthening this”.
Even within the areas immediately surrounding 3M plants, the company is working with local authorities to address the needs in the community. During lockdown, the company served close to 3500 migrant workers and their families with cooked meals (lunch and dinner) near the Ranjangaon plant in Pune. The company distributed close to 50,000 meals till date from 3M approved canteen kitchens, taking care to observe social distancing norms. The company has also distributed dry rations of sugar and edible oil to the local community kitchens feeding over 90,000 people.
West Bengal was struck with CoVID first, followed by Cyclone Amphan. Leveraging its ‘adopt an anganwadi” initiative in partnership with United Way, Kolkata, 3M has set up disaster response towards relief and rehabilitation work, to support the Amphan cyclone-affected regions in the slums of Shalimar, Howrah, Khidderpore, Chetla and Tollygunge. About 3700+ families are expected to be benefited by the intervention through creation of shelters and distribution of dry ration and hygiene kits.
“Once the pandemic is controlled, it will be important to build resilience amongst the worst affected communities. We intend to strategically plan projects in these communities broadly focussing on education, community issues and long-term impact such as strengthening our healthcare systems to meet future pandemic outbreaks”. said Mr. Ramadurai.
Manish Michael, Chief Executive Officer, United Way India, adds “3M is a Global Corporate Leader of United Way Worldwide’s programs, working with our network across the globe to address the most pressing human needs. In India as well, 3M always stood to support communities’ immediate need as well as initiatives with long term sustainable impact. COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed unprecedented issues amongst vulnerable communities, and we are grateful for 3M’s support to hospitals in several Indian cities that are serving COVID 19 patients”.
Globally, 3Mgives has increased humanitarian aid commitment to fight COVID-19, providing $20 million for community partners that are working on COVID-19 support around the world.
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