Google to provide INR 109 crore to build oxygen generation plants in rural India

India News Network | June 17
Silicon Valley, CA :
Showing solidarity with India as it slowly recovery from the impact of the second wave of COVID-19, US technology major Google on Thursday announced $ 15.5 million (Rs I09 crores) in grants to build oxygen generation plants and train healthcare workers in rural India.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai took to Twitter to empathise with those in India impacted by the second wave Covid-19 crisis. He informed about the help from the IT Company’s philanthropic arm in India Google.org for upgrading oxygen generation capacities in rural India.
“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,” his tweet said.
Google.org will support procurement and installation of approximately 80 oxygen generation plants in healthcare facilities in high-need and rural locations with new grants totaling approximately $15 million (109 Crore INR) to GiveIndia and PATH, said a blog post by the company’s philanthropic arm.
The two organizations will work together to oversee the oxygen program, providing project management support, it added.
PATH will identify the target locations and provide technical assistance, working with state governments and other authorities, and complete the installation of the plants, the Google.org blog mentioned.
Google is also investing in the efforts of Apollo Medskills to help upskill 20,000 frontline health workers through specialized training in COVID-19 management, it noted.
This will complement and strengthen the stressed rural health workforce and rural health systems, the blog written by Google India’s Country Head and VP, Sanjay Gupta said.
It announced that to further bolster these efforts, Google.org will provide a $500,000 (3.6 Crore INR) grant to non-profit ARMMAN.
ARMMAN will run skilling programs for 180,000 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and 40,000 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) in 15 Indian states, the blog stated.
It will also set up a call center to provide additional help and advice for ASHAs and ANMs where required.
Earlier, in April this year, the philanthropic arm of the IT major had announced grants totalling $18 million (135 Crore INR) to expand the reach of public health information campaigns and support emergency relief work.

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