ITC Limited

ITC's 12 Ways to Fight Corona Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is a threat of unprecedented proportions. In this hour of national crisis, ITC is making an all-out effort to lend support to the Government's endeavours. Towards this, several initiatives have been implemented leveraging ITC's businesses and value-chains.

ITC Contingency Fund
ITC set up a Contingency Fund of Rs 150 crore to address and manage the challenges arising out of this adversity. This fund will be utilised primarily to provide relief to the vulnerable and most needy sections of society who have been harshly impacted by the pandemic and have faced significant disruption in their livelihoods. It is envisaged that the fund will collaborate with District Authorities to provide assistance to the district health and rural healthcare eco-system that reaches out to the weakest sections of society. Further, it is also envisaged that the resources under this fund will be channelised towards the protection and well-being of the ground forces who are doing commendable work to reach medicines, groceries, other essential goods, sourcing of agri-commodities and so on for people across the country during the lockdown, by providing protective personal gear and hygiene products to such frontline warriors.

To make a humble contribution to the Government's efforts in mitigating the crisis, ITC pledged its contribution of Rs 100 crore to the #PMCaresFund.

Support to vulnerable sections across Districts
To meet the immediate need for food and hygiene products, the Company is also working closely with local administrations across the country to provide essential commodities like food items and hygiene products like soaps and sanitisers for people in distress.

This initiative currently covers 17 states where more than 1 million pieces of soap, 3 lakh packets of YiPPee! noodles, nearly 6 lakh packets of Sunfeast biscuits and 1.5 lakh packs of B Natural fruit juices are being progressively delivered to district authorities. In several areas, responding to the needs of the administration, including police, hygiene products like Savlon soaps have been provided for their personnel as well as health centres and hospitals. One lakh masks are being distributed to frontline staff and value chain partners.

Specific Initiatives by Businesses
The Company's Business Divisions have also initiated programmes to aid vulnerable sections of citizens during the nationwide pandemic. ITC's Foods Division, for example, has extended support to children and senior citizens by sending food supplies across the country through its 'Aashirvaad Box of Hope' and 'Sunfeast Box of Happiness' initiative. ITC has joined hands with 3 leading NGOs building a partnership network to deliver such essential food supplies to people severely impacted by the current lockdown. In another such effort, ITC's Foods Division has provided help to the residents of Bhilwara district in Rajasthan, which is one of the most impacted areas, by distributing essential food products including Aashirvaad Atta and snacks. ITC's food package per family includes 10 kilograms of Aashirvaad Atta to cover approximately a month-long staple requirement and some snacks like Bingo! for the members of some of the families from the region.

Similarly, ITC's Paper and Paperboards Division (ITC PSPD) has distributed food packets to the needy in Telangana. Company doctors at the factories of ITC PSPD conducted awareness camps for communities in their catchments. In Bhadrachalam, they distributed masks and hand gloves to truck drivers as well as sanitisers to public health workers in Secunderabad. The Business also disinfected around 18 villages around the Bhadrachalam factory. Awareness programmes were also conducted by the Well Being out of Waste Teams in 16 districts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

In another initiative, ITC's notebook brand Classmate has also introduced a social media campaign to keep students spirited and engaged creatively during the lockdown period by introducing them to new skills and art form.

Distribution of cooked meals
Given the urgent requirement to provide cooked meals to migrant workers and needy people across the country, ITC Hotels as well as ITC factories are providing extensive support to Governments across different states, based on the requirements of the local administration as well as hospitals. ITC Maurya and Sheraton in New Delhi have been providing over 1500 meals daily for distribution to migrant workers. ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru is lending its support with 1000 food packets daily for 15 days (15000 meals) to the Municipal Corporation. ITC Grand Central in Mumbai has made arrangements to deliver meals to doctors in MG Hospital. Food has also been catered to doctors at the Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai by ITC Grand Central. Fortune Hotel in Lucknow is also lending assistance through the provision of more than 1000 meals per day. This initiative will be progressively rolled out in other metros based on the need. The Paperboards Business has been distributing over 1400 meals to migrant labourers around the factory in Bhadrachalam. In addition, ITC factories in Saharanpur, UP well as ITC teams in Patna have been providing more than 3500 cooked meals per day in proximate areas.

Provision of Quarantine spaces by ITC Hotels
ITC Maratha was identified as one of the quarantine spaces by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. ITC Hotels is also working closely with the local administration and embassies and offered similar space at ITC Grand Chola and ITC Kohenur to enable stopover of asymptomatic international travellers as and when required. ITC Hotel properties in Jaipur and Goa have made meaningful contributions by providing shower caps for doctors and healthcare workers as well as ensuring availability of sanitisers. In addition, ITC Hotel properties in Jaipur and Goa have made meaningful contributions by providing shower caps for doctors and healthcare workers as well as ensuring availability of sanitisers.

Reaching essential products to consumers across the country
During the pandemic, it is extremely important to reach essential items like food and hygiene products across the country. ITC's entire supply chain right from agri sourcing to production to distribution has been working tirelessly battling all odds to ensure that consumers are not inconvenienced on account of shortages or unavailability. ITC has also been working closely with Government authorities and local administration to ensure that manufacturing and distribution of ITC's essential commodities continue uninterrupted with minimum people working in the value-chain. ITC has redoubled its efforts to ensure a heightened level of precaution and have implemented strict protocols for personal hygiene, sanitation and social distancing in its factories that are producing essential commodities. For those who have to work in factories or maintain supplies in markets, every safety precaution including supply of sanitizers, protective gear, masks, regular temperature checks, staggered work timings and availability of 24x7 medical support have been implemented.

ITC has also recently tied up with Domino's to deliver essential goods such as Aashirvaad Atta and spices by leveraging their zero contact delivery programme. Their safe Delivery Expert will follow the Zero Contact Delivery practice to deliver the package of Aashirvaad products.

Ramping up production of Savlon hygiene products including sanitisers
ITC's Personal Care Products Division has ramped up the production of Savlon sanitizers to cater to the heightened demand. Amidst the unprecedented surge in demand for hand hygiene products, ITC, on a war footing, repurposed its world class perfume facility in Himachal Pradesh to help produce an additional 1,25,000 litres of Savlon Hand Sanitisers. In line with the Government order and in public interest, ITC has also reduced prices of Savlon sanitisers and is working overnight to reach the new stocks to the market. It is also working tirelessly to enhance awareness about the importance of hand hygiene through campaigns.

Working with farmers
At a time when supply of agri-commodities in the markets is a challenge, ITC's Agri Business Division is also leveraging its institutional capabilities and other structural advantages to explore the options of engaging its farmer network and initiating purchase of farm produce with help from Government authorities. ITC is also making focussed efforts to educate farmers and their family members to adopt preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in their communities. The Agri Business is also leveraging mobile technologies such as ITC e-Choupal 4.0 and local field staff strength to ensure continuity of farming by handholding farmers on best practices and deploying relevant technology with safety measures.

Saluting the frontline warriors in ITC
To boost the morale of ITC's frontline warriors who are ensuring supply of essential products such as Aashirvaad range of staples, Sunfeast biscuits or Savlon sanitizers, to name just a few, several campaigns, including video messages, have been initiated. Through an inspiring letter to the employees, Chairman Mr. Sanjiv Puri, on behalf of the entire Team ITC, has saluted the undying spirit and dedication of the ITC Bravehearts who are battling it out in the frontline to serve the Nation during these challenging times.

Ensuring employee well-being and safety
ITC has taken several initiatives to ensure wellbeing of its employees during the health hazard. The Chairman, and the Corporate Management Committee are also closely monitoring the situation on a daily basis. Contingency Management Teams have been put in place both centrally and within each Business for monitoring and providing support. Chairman has reached out to employees through multiple communications, inspiring employees and assuring them of the Company's support during these challenging times. A team of Company doctors have been made available 24x7 for any advice or assistance.

For those who have to work in factories or maintain supplies of essential products, detailed safety precautions including supply of Savlon sanitizers, protective gears, masks, regular temperature checks, guidelines on social distancing and staggered work timing have been implemented.

Regular communications are being sent to all employees including thousands working from home providing details of the preventive measures that need to be taken as per the WHO guidelines. Detailed 'work from home' guidelines have also been shared with employees to streamline their efforts in a meaningful way to contribute to the Company's goal of serving the nation. Employees are also being encouraged to set their own self-development goals apart from looking after their well-being and that of their families.

In these endeavours, to keep ITC's human resources connected and agile, ITC's fully-owned subsidiary ITC Infotech has been playing a pioneering role. Its employees have toiled hard to provide the technological support to enable seamless work from home operations several remote solutions.

As on April 6, 2020
 

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