Infosys Foundation commits Rs 100 crore to PM CARES Fund

Infosys Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) unit of technology major Infosys, said it will donate Rs 100 crore to The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund.

The Bengaluru-based firm has already contributed half of the committed amount -- 50 Rs crore -- to the fund, it said on Monday.

The PM CARES Fund was announced by the government on Saturday to support the fight against Covid-19 in India.

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The money will be used to expand hospital capacity to treat Covid-19 patients; provide ventilators, testing kits and personal protective equipment such as face masks for healthcare workers; and ensure access to food to those who cannot afford it, the company said.

The foundation said it also made other announcements related to Covid-19 in the past couple of weeks.

It announced support to set up an exclusive hospital in Bengaluru for Covid-19 patients, and enabled the acquisition of medical and personal protection equipment for military and government hospitals, the company said. The foundation also supports non-governmental organisations that provide food and hygiene kits, it added.

“All our efforts will be targeted towards ensuring that the relief material reaches the people who need it the most, whether it is a patient who cannot afford treatment, our healthcare personnel, or daily wage workers whose livelihood has been severely impacted,” Sudha Murty, chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, said.

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“Infosys Foundations, both in India and in the USA, are extending their resources and technological capabilities to help people who are most impacted by this pandemic,” Salil Parekh, CEO and managing director, Infosys, said.

Infosys Foundation was established in 1996 to support people in need in the areas of education, rural development, healthcare, and arts and culture.