Bhubaneswar: Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) including NALCO under the Union Ministry of Mines are also leading from the front and contributing in the fight against COVID-19.
From contributing financially towards establishing special dedicated COVID facilities to upgrading their own health infrastructure and conducting mass vaccination, Mines PSUs are continuously working to help fight the second wave of COVID-19.
National Aluminum Company Limited (NALCO) has made a contribution of Rs.1.16 crore to Saheed Laxman Naik Hospital, Koraput Odisha for exclusive Covid Care Centre. It has also contributed towards a Covid Care Centre at ESI HOSPITAL, Banarpal in Angul District of Odisha incurring a monthly expenditure of about Rs. 30 lakhs.
NALCO is also undertaking massive sanitization drives carried out at its units and residential and nearby areas. It has donated a refrigerated truck having a capacity of 25,70,000 Covid vaccine (in doses) to the state immunization cell for smooth transportation of COVID-19 vaccines across Odisha.
It has supported the State Health Department by Rs.1.16 crore for procurement of two Ventilator Ambulances. It has also provided financial support to Bhubaneswar Municipality Corporation (BMC) Hospital for purchase of Digital X-ray machines. NALCO is continuously depicting COVID appropriate behavior on its website, social media platforms, digital displays, banners and hoardings. It has also distributed dry rations and other materials for the benefit of people like migrant workers, daily earners etc.
Notably, the Mines PSUs were also at the forefront in their respective operational areas in the fight against COVID-19 during the first wave.
NALCO had made a total contribution of Rs. 10.2 crore towards COVID-19 relief fund which includes Rs.5 crore and one-day’s salary of employees amounting to Rs.2.6 crore to PM CARES Fund and one-day salary of employees amounting to Rs.2.6 crore to CM’s Relief Fund, Odisha.
NALCO had also funded a 200 bedded exclusive COVID-19 hospital at Nabarangpur for the patients of undivided Koraput district, Odisha. It had also set up two exclusive COVID Care Centres, one each at M&R Complex Damanjodi and S&P Complex Angul.
Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), under its CSR programme, has given financial contribution to the Dharwad district (Karnataka) for the acquisition of Oxygen concentrators. It has also displayed banners and flexes on its office premises and nearby localities. COVID-19 appropriate behavior and vaccination banners, standees & flexes have been put on the Nagpur, Ajni & Itwari Railway stations and IIM, Nagpur.
HCL extends the knowledge base among individuals about COVID-19 prevention. Banners are displayed and pamphlets/advisories/circulars are distributed on a regular basis at work locations and market areas in HCL Units to make the employees, contract workers, township residents and the local communities aware of COVID-19 appropriate behavior.