To Tackle COVID-19 Crisis In Maharashtra and Delhi, Anand Mahindra Launches ‘Oxygen On Wheels’ Initiative

New Delhi: In the wake of acute oxygen shortage in the state of Maharashtra and Delhi due to rising COVID-19 cases in the deadly second wave, the Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra on Saturday (May 1) rolled out the ‘Oxygen on Wheels’ initiative to help COVID-19 patients struggling to get oxygen and ease the transportation from oxygen producing plants to hospitals and homes. Announcing the launch of the initiative first in Maharashtra on social media, Anand Mahindra said,

Today, Oxygen is the key to reducing mortality. The problem is not of oxygen production but its transportation from producing plants to hospitals and homes. We’re attempting to bridge this gap with “Oxygen on Wheels” a project implemented via Mahindra Logistics.

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Further elaborating about the project, he said that the

Oxygen on Wheels uses trucks in local shuttle routes to connect oxygen producers with hospitals and homes. An operations control Centre has been established and the storage location is replenished from the local refilling plant. A direct-to-consumer model is being conceived.

Thanking his team for this quick rollout, Mr Mahindra said,

I made a commitment to @CMOMaharashtra on Tuesday and in just 48 hours the @Mahindralog_MLL team launched the program in Pune and Chakan with 20 Boleros. I’m deeply grateful to the team.

The rollout of this initiative in Maharashtra includes Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur. Anand Mahindra  said that soon they will expand this project throughout the country. He added,

We have started in Maharashtra but will expand this through the country relying on the support of our trusted dealership network and the assistance of local administrations to succeed.

Announcing the rollout of the mission in the national Capital, Mr Mahindra said,

We’re rushing SOS oxygen cylinders to hospitals from the Rajghat & Mayapuri oxygen depots. Together we fight the second wave. Thanks to the local administration for the opportunity and their support #RiseForGood.

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He further said that the initiative in New Delhi will be further scaled up in few days. He added,

We’re scaling up operations in Delhi in the coming days as well as expanding reach to neighbouring centres. O2W is already operating at Pune, Chakan, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nasik and Nagpur, delivering about 600 O2 cylinders every day with Bolero pickup trucks.

Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, not just Maharashtra, which has been the worst-hit state since last year, various other states are also facing an acute shortage of oxygen. Currently, India is facing the worst second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, India has reported 4.12 lakh fresh cases, 3,980 deaths as per the data by Health Ministry on May 7, which is country’s worst covid numbers since the beginning of pandemic. World Health Organization said on Wednesday (May 6) that India accounted for 46% of global cases and 25% of global deaths reported in the past week. The country has been clocking more than 300,000 daily COVID-19 cases for 13 days straight, with the health system crumbling and people gasping for oxygen.

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NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.