HDFC Bank, under its Parivartan program, will set up several medical-related infrastructure across the country to assist in the fight against the covid pandemic. These would include setting up of permanent medical infrastructure such as Oxygen plants, medical equipment and ICU facilities, in addition to providing medical supplies to hospitals across India. The bank has committed an initial amount of Rs 100 crore under Parivartan in FY 21-22 for covid relief initiatives. In FY 20-21, the bank contributed Rs 120 crore towards covid relief as part of Parivartan. The bank said it intends to set up 20 oxygen plants across various hospitals in India, 100-bed covid care facilities, 2 isolation centers and provide medical equipment and supplies to more than 200 hospitals across the country. The bank will work with local administration to identify hospitals where the oxygen plants have to be set up. The bank also plans to offer scholarships under its Education Crisis Scholarship Scheme to students affected by the pandemic and provide monthly rations to close to 150,00 individuals across villages. Ashima Bhat, Group Head – CSR, Business Finance and Strategy, Administration and Infrastructure at the bank, said the bank will be working with its NGO partners and local administration to create the necessary medical infrastructure like oxygen plants, medical equipment and covid care facilities. Going forward, it will focus on critical areas like education and livelihood, particularly for families affected by covid and work on more such long-term sustainable initiatives, she added.
