Tech giant Google on Thursday announced huge assistance in support of India in the fight against Covid-19. Google.org announced that it would provide Rs 113 crore ($15.5 million). The funds would be used for additional training, upskilling healthcare workers, improvement of health facilities in rural areas and construction of about 80 oxygen plants.
Google.org will support acquisition and installation of about 80 oxygen generation plants in healthcare facilities in high-need and rural locations with new grants of about Rs 90 crore (USD 12.5 million) to GiveIndia and about Rs 18.5 crore (USD 2.5 million) to PATH.
The goal is to help rural health workers and health systems, according to Google.org. In addition, Asha and ANM workers have been given Rs. 3.6 crore ($5 lakh) grant. It will set up upskilling programs for 80,000 Asha workers and 40,000 ANMs in 15 states.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai has expressed his condolences to the victims of the Covid-19. He tweeted, “Our hearts go out to those in India impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and we continue to look for ways to help. Today @Googleorg will provide an additional $15.5 million to build oxygen generation plants and train healthcare workers in rural India.”
It is worth mentioning that Google provided Rs 135 crore in April for public health campaigns and emergency relief efforts.