SBI FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SLEW OF MEASURES TO FIGHT COVID-19 BATTLE

Chandigarh: As the Nation faces an unprecedented challenge, true to its vision and mission SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of State Bank of India, has committed Rs.30 cr to implement various COVID relief programmes all across India. SBI Foundation has geared up to assist in the war against COVID and has planned the following interventions:
•         Food relief support
•         Strengthening healthcare infrastructure
•         Capacity building  of healthcare workers
•         Research on COVID related projects in tie up with IISc.
To implement these initiatives, SBI Foundation has set up a new flagship program on Health theme. Distribution of ventilators, PPEs etc to critical hospitals and supply of 10000 freshly cooked meals daily in 4 centres of India have already been initiated. SBI Launching of Project Echo India in partnership with ECHO India and MoHFW to provide training and mentoring to 50000 healthcare professionals across various states, has been another achievement by SBI Foundation. Another program launched is the India COVID-19 Healthcare Alliance (ICHA) with USAID, a health care initiative to supplement the efforts of the State and Central Governments.
Shri Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI stated, "We, at SBI, have always believed in giving back to the society and the nation. Today, when the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for the Country, we hope our humble initiatives would make a difference in our collective fight against COVID-19. SBI is constructively engaging in collaborative and proactive action to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Our pensioners have gone the extra mile by contributing generously to the COVID relief fund in response to my appeal and have become a true force for good at this time of national crisis. We would like to extend a personal thank you to all of them, our partners for their added support and encourage more corporates and public sector enterprises to join us in our war against COVID-19,”
A COVID-19 relief fund was also launched by SBI Foundation to mobilise funds for fighting COVID-19 pandemic. SBI Mahila Samiti President Smt. Reeta Agarwal exhorted the wives of employees to donate for the cause and there was overwhelming response resulting in huge collection. The funds will be used to supply ventilators to critical hospitals all across India and in providing food kits to the needy.
Smt Reeta Agarwal said, “This contribution signifies that the ladies club members all over India vigorously rallied and united to mobilize funds to support those suffering from the effects of COVID-19. I believe it is our duty as relatively more fortunate citizens of India, to rise to the occasion to mitigate the pain and anguish of our fellow citizens. Our members all across India are proud to be able to help make a difference in the fight against this virus."
SBI Foundation, was set up in 2015 with the aim of reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to enriching the lives of the marginalized and be the leading institution for promoting growth and equality. Within a short span of 4 years SBIF has worked with the most vulnerable and underprivileged communities across India facilitating their integration into the mainstream development process of the country. Making resources available to the vulnerable and needy has always been the ethos of the Foundation.