US tech giants offer India help in Covid-19 fight
TOP tech companies including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have extended their support to India to fight against Covid-19. Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai has already announced a relief fund of $18m.
Microsoft boss Satya Nadela has also announced that the company will continue to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices. E-commerce giant, Amazon has also come forward to donate 10,000 oxygen concentrators to the south Asian country.
‘The first is to GiveIndia to provide cash assistance to families hit hardest by the crisis to help with their everyday expenses. The second will go to UNICEF to help get urgent medical supplies, including oxygen and testing equipment, to where it's needed most in India,' said Sanjay Gupta, Country Head and VP, Google India.
‘We're increasing our support today with an additional $15m in Ad Grants to local health authorities and nonprofits for more language coverage options,' Gupta added.
The Covid features on search are available in India, in English and eight Indian languages, and the company said it is continuing to improve localization and highlight authoritative information.
Nadella has claimed that his company is mobilising its resources to help the Covid-ravaged nation. ‘I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I'm grateful the US government is mobilising to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices,' Nadella tweeted.
Amazon is donating 10,000 oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines to hospitals and public institutions to augment their capacity to help Covid-19 infected patients across multiple cities in India.
Amazon has joined hands with ACT Grants, Temasek Foundation, Pune Platform for Covid-19 Response (PPCR) and other partners to urgently airlift over 8,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 BiPAP machines from Singapore.
Additionally, Amazon India is also procuring over 1,500 oxygen concentrators and other critical medical equipment in partnership with non-profits including Swasth, Concern India and impact organizations like ACT Grants and Sattva Consulting.
The company said that the organizations are working closely with the Indian government to expedite the entry of these oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines into the country.
‘We stand firmly with the country, deploying our global logistics network to urgently airlift the needed oxygen concentrators to support the nation's immediate need,' said Amit Agarwal, Global SVP and Country Head, Amazon India.