Tata Chemicals steps up its efforts in the COVID-19 battlefield
Tata Chemicals, one of the largest chemical companies in the country, has been actively supporting the nation in its fight against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic through Tata Chemicals Society of Rural Development (TCSRD) by supplying disinfectants, making masks, ensuring food security and augmenting medical facilities for the local communities.
Tata Chemicals has manufactured and supplied more than 1.1 Million Litres of disinfectant to Gujarat and 480,000 Litres to BMC, Maharashtra so far to keep the public places and disease prone localities safe from the virus.
To meet the increased requirement of hand sanitizer, Tata Chemicals Ltd’s subsidiary Rallis India has transformed its chemical units at Akola and Ankleshwar and has produced and supplied 75,300 litres litres of hand sanitizer across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana and Karnataka.
In line with Tata Group’s initiatives, Tata Chemicals and its units have adopted a two-pronged approach to tackle this unprecedented situation. One intervention focuses on supporting the government and the other one on supporting the local communities.
Through Self Help Groups (SHGs) and artisans associated with the Company’s Okhai initiative, Tata Chemicals has produced about 73000 masks in Mithapur and Cuddalore which are being distributed to police, local community, driver, security etc. Through Okhai, the company has also connected SHGs making masks across India and made available 87,000 masks for the open market suppliers. Besides supplying the life-saving masks, this effort has also supported the livelihood of more than 275 women in these times, when there are low economic activities due to the restrictions of people movement.
Ms Alka Talwar, Chief of CSR and Sustainability at Tata Chemicals, said, “Following the Tata Group’s philosophy of putting the community ahead of business, we are extending our full support to the government and the local people. It's a fight and we are #InItTogether. Tata Chemicals is committed to supporting the society through science-led intervention with a human touch.”
Since the beginning of the national lockdown, Tata Chemicals has been supporting the local communities with food security. So far, Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD) has supported over 30000 people across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with food packets.
During the lockdown, the company is also supporting 139 farmers by directly connecting them to households in Mithapur and Dwarka and has sold 17,736 kg of vegetables so far. It is also going to distribute 10,000 seed kits across 42 villages of Gujarat for kitchen gardening.
In Mithapur (Devbhoomi Dwarka district of Gujarat), where the Company’s main manufacturing plant is located, Tata Chemicals has augmented the capacity of Mithapur Hospital by setting up temporary additional facilities for COVID-19 patients. In its efforts to make the public spaces safer, Tata Chemicals also sprayed disinfectant in Mithapur and 43 nearby villages. The Company is engaging local communities for increased awareness about the pandemic and safety measures required to deal with this global crisis. Using posters and through video campaigns, the Company volunteers have reached out to more than 40 villages near Mithapur spreading message of safe behavior.
