The major cities of India are under a lockdown with the Covid cases rising all over the country. The second wave of the virus was an unexpected hit towards the country causing a lot of casualties among the citizens and a lot of businesses going down. With regards to it, the National Restaurant Association of India has asked for a rental waiver. Let’s look at the further details and analyze the performance of the restaurant industry during the year 2020-2021.
On 19 May 2021, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has asked the owners of the malls to reduce or provide extra time for rentals during the lockdown phase in the country. They have also asked for a renegotiation on the commercial terms going forward as the malls are closed and this would further affect the restaurant and beverage, industry owners.
The concerns raised by NRAI
In a statement, the NRAI had conveyed that it had written to the mall to urgently solve the various commercial concerns that are faced by the restaurant and beverage industry owners. They have mentioned that in the letter the association has mentioned about two concerns which are waiver on rental charges and a revised model for revenue sharing.
The association has communicated that the mandated lockdown has forced the owners to shut the shops and prevent the malls to allow the entry of guests and customers or even staff and suppliers. It mentioned that it is a typical situation and would require the rental charges or the common maintenance charges during the phase of lockdown to be waived off completely.
It has communicated that the future agreements on rent have to be made keeping in mind the crisis that is faced due to Covid and the duration the business would take to reach normalcy. The shaping of the model of the post Covid era is expected to be based on a totally variable model.
The association has communicated that the revenue sharing model would interlink the fortunes of the mall owner and the restaurant owners and they would reach a situation where both of them wouldn’t profiteer from each other but support one another.
Statement by NRAI
What is Revenue Sharing Model?
The retailers and the restaurant owners are found to be in talks with the mall owners to waive off the rentals during the phase of lockdown and would want to renegotiate their terms to continue in the future through a revenue sharing model as the road ahead is uncertain.
Restaurant owners are also trying to seek help from the government. The food and beverage industry employs around 7 million people and they fully depend on daily walk-ins which have caused a severe impact on the business due to the lockdown.
The president of NRAI, Anurag Katriar conveyed that they would not be able to operate on old costs with less than half of older revenue. He added that therefore he feels that the revenue sharing model is a very fair model where even if we see an increase in the business volumes at the early stage the malls won’t lose out.
Restaurant Business Post lockdown
The business will recover post lockdown when the social distancing measures and the concerns of consumers about the crowded place would reduce. NRAI also communicated that they do not expect the business to increase as soon as the lockdown is lifted.
They have conveyed that the business would just expect a volume of 30-40% of what they have been received the pre lockdown face and this would be possible by lowering the fixed costs of the restaurants.
The industry body had mentioned in its letter that considering the proportion of fixed expenses in the F&B industry, the businesses are expected to face huge operating losses as the fixed expenses are really high and this would be controlled only if the major expenses such as the rent would be converted into a variable expense.
Performance of Restaurant Industry 2020 to 2021
The restaurant industry had a huge downfall at the beginning of 2020 as there was a nationwide lockdown and moreover, it was totally unexpected and a new concept faced by the businesses. The normal restaurants have tried to manage their operating costs due to the food delivery startups keeping the orders in demand.
However, they also wouldn’t be able to increase their profit compared to the pre lockdown phase as walk in provide higher revenue for the restaurants. While comparing to the food and beverage industry in the malls they had faced huge losses as they were completely shut.
As soon as the lockdown was raised and the restaurants and the public started moving around with fewer restrictions. The restaurants and the F&B industry in the malls had seen a revival in their businesses but soon the second wave had hit the country and the major cities of the country are undergoing a lockdown.
FAQ
Is restaurant business profitable in India?
Restaurant business is a lucrative business which if planned properly the profit margins can be up to 40% per month.
How many restaurants does India have?
India has about 53,000 hotels and 70 lakh restaurants in organised category.
What are five segments of the restaurant industry?
There are five restaurant segments, Family dining full-service, Casual dining full-service, Fine dining full-service, Quick-service(fast foods), and Quick-casual.
Conclusion
The road ahead for the F&B industry is going to be hard as the country would take some time to reach normalcy. Since there is also a new epidemic in the country named Black Fungus the future has become so unpredictable. The NRAI has also taken into consideration to raise concerns towards the food aggregators and the individual landlords.
The situation in India is becoming worse day by day. The cases have been increasing and the NGOs, fundraising organizations, the frontline workers and the Government have been working continuously against the spread of the virus and containment of it.
Wearing a mask and maintaining social distance are not the only things that matter in these hard times. A lot of people are facing many difficulties and here are some simple but effective steps you can follow in order to help your community to fight during this unprecedented time.
If you have certain skills, you can use them to educate the people about the ongoing situation and support the community. Let’s say if you are a content creator or a social media influencer you can create content about awareness or something related to the ongoing situation in the country.
A graphic designer can design posters about the precautions to be taken, coming up with some informative posts or you can even create posts for some NGOs or Fundraising organizations and help them serve the community.
Educating your community
If you are a fitness enthusiast or a nutritional coach or even a social media influencer then you can share tips with your community on how to take necessary precautions, providing different techniques to stay safe, different breathing exercises to help increase oxygen levels.
If you don’t have a community to share you can build your own community in these hard times and help people stay fit and active. Make them practice yoga or make them active through certain physical activities. You can educate them about the importance of nutrition and how it helps them during these times.
Community help
Sharing positivity
Since most of the news or information which is consumed by people is negative, you can try sharing something positive. If you are a musician you can create new covers which people would enjoy or organize certain virtual jams which would keep the people entertained.
If you are a social media influencer or a motivational speaker you can share positive thoughts and keep your community motivated.
You can check in with your family members, friends your neighbours or your known people. Call them up to check on their status just to ensure that they are fine. Speak to them for some time and always try your best to help them in case they require your help.
Check in with your Family
If you are unable to help try finding someone who can help them in that case. Always support each other and being there for each other is very important during this hard time.
Social Media post
Always cross check what you share on your social media account. Ensure that you don’t share any fake news, double check to find the facts and always post factual news only after you are convinced and find it legitimate.
Try not to share any hateful posts or any triggering posts on your social media profiles. Try staying away from all the negative posts and information. Support a budding creator or a business that is trying to help people during these times and finding solutions for their problems. You can share memes or some funny videos on your social media platform.
You can share useful stories or posts on your social media account. For example, posts such as Covid helpline number of your locality or if there are any NGOs providing meals for the affected family or oxygen cylinders as your post may be helpful for some family which we would never know.
Share useful stories on social media
Always try supporting NGOs and fundraising organizations and a small help from your side can contribute a lot to the organizations and certain families. You can even share details about the Plasma donations or any help which would help the members in the community who are going through a difficult time.
Staying home is the most important and the best way you can help the community. It would cut down the spreading of the virus and ensure that you go outside only if it very necessary. Every time you go out take the necessary precautions such as using double masking or using an N95 mask, sanitize and maintain social distance.
FAQ
How can I help my community?
Get involved as a volunteer, Support local businesses, Tidy up, Help your neighbours, and Donate things. These are few ways to help your community.
Why is helping the community important?
It will enrich your life, familiarize you with your community, and connect you to people and ideas that will positively impact your perspective for the rest of your life.
How can I protect myself and others from getting COVID-19?
Avoid close contact with people who are sick, Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash, Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and other people, and Wear cloth face coverings in public settings.
Conclusion
Take all the precautions so that you and the members of your family would remain safe and secure. Do your part of the help in order to support the community and together we can break the chain and cut down the rise of the cases in the country.
The COVID-19 pandemic has effectively brought normal life to a halt in the whole world. So, Indian government has used the formula “break the chain” to stop the spread of this disease. Indian government has ordered for lockdown and 1.3 billion residents of country to stay home. As a result, employees of many companies are working from home. But they need to follow best practices for working from home to be productive.
But, it’s not easy for the company to let all employees to work from home. Company has to take permission from its client if employee can work on client’s information at home. Employees need laptop, a good internet connection, communication gear, work-related hardware & software. Of course, technology has made it easy as you can do everything online like meetings, attendance, etc. But, all companies have to make plans how they can make it efficient.
We talked to few companies about their planning to have “Work from Home” and effective best practices for working from home which they have applied for maximum output in the time.
Founded in early 2015, upGrad offers online programs for working professionals. We talked to Mr. Mayank Kumar, Co-founder & MD of upGrad, about their planning to make work from home effective.
At upGrad ever since we have switched to the Work-From-Home model, the leadership team has been on their toes to make sure that their respective teams are communicating enough amongst their colleagues, maintaining the team bonding and synchronization. We have active video/audio calls and group conferencing to make sure that everybody stays updated.
We’ve ensured that remote IT infrastructure (hardware and software) are made available as much as possible. To ensure that the work stays uninterrupted, employees can discuss with their manager and mail to IT help for support anytime.
We will be using hangouts, zoom or other software for official meetings or calls.
Employees are encouraged not to step out of home for a meeting, event, public gathering etc. unless absolutely necessary.
We suggest them to exercise caution while using public transport for travelling inside the city and minimize your inter-city and intra city travels.
At upGrad, we will be monitoring the spread, taking inputs from industry and govt. bodies and take appropriate decisions keeping your safety and business continuity in mind. We will keep employees posted from time to time about relevant updates.
Casa Exotique
Casa Exotique has been exploring the depth of Interior Designing and Styling with the help of a remarkable team of professionals who takes each and every turn to make your vision come to life. We talked to Ms. Bhawana Bhatnagar, Interior Stylist and Founder, about the plans to make work from home effective.
Ms. Bhawana Bhatnagar- Founder, Casa Exotique:
Given that we’re currently at stage two of the infection, we are actively separating sick employees and contractors from the healthy ones to prevent the infection from spreading any further. Also, sick employees have been given the Flexi leave benefits as well. As of now, we are waiting for the government directives and updates on the situation. If there is any indication that we are moving towards stage 3, then work from home will definitely be implemented.
121 Experiences
121 Experiences specializes in experiential brand communicating solutions to drive behaviour changing consumer habits. We talked to Aniket Sharma, Co-founder & CEO, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Aniket Sharma- Co-Founder, 121 Experiences :
We have urged all our employees to work from home during the current crisis unless absolutely necessary to work from office.
We also understand not all employees can work from home due to their respective reasons, for them we are following a rotational policy. If there is a team of 4 then only 2 people have been asked to come on a single day.
Further we have encouraged car pooling amongst our employees instead of taking the local transport to and fro to work.
We have also relaxed office hours from 11-4 to ensure those who have to take public transport can avoid peak hours both ways.
My Star Hub
To create the most authentic and memorable fan experiences across the world, My Star Hub came up with the platform where fans can book personalized video shootouts from their favorite celebrities. We talked to Swapnil Mahajan, Founder & CEO, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Swapnil Mahajan- Founder, My Star Hub :
We have chalked out a comprehensive guideline to keep remote working effective.
Besides maintaining a focus on clear communication, we have kept things flexible as we know that the one-size-fits-all formula doesn’t work when people are working in different settings.
We are relying on online tools and digital meeting platforms for discussions, clarifications, and progress tracking.
We have full trust in our people and are working on creating a support structure for effective remote working.
Co-founded by Swati Nathani and Ranjeet Kumar, Team Pumpkin, a 360 Degrees Marketing & PR agency commenced its operations in 2012 with a clear mission to help brands win in the Marketing and PR space. We talked to Ranjeet Kumar, Co-founder, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Ranjeet Kumar- Co-Founder, Team Pumpkin :
As a precautionary measure, we have rolled out remote working directives for all our employees across regions until the situation settles down.
Team Pumpkin has always been a flexible organization, even before Coronavirus forced people to work-from-home, we had implemented the policy in our company. With our long-tested policy and a supportive environment for remote working, we are effectively maintaining our productivity levels.
With daily work reports and progress updates, we are making sure that the deliverables are not affected and business continuity is maintained as normal.
We are connecting with the teams and clients through teleconferencing and video conferencing on a need basis.
To manage daily attendance, employees have been advised to download the app and do remote clock-in and clock-out throughout the remote working period.
For those who need to visit the office for any urgent requirement, we are ensuring complete hygiene within the premises.
Headquartered in Hyderabad and Singapore, Ozonetel has several industry firsts to its credit in the area of Cloud Communication. We talked to Chaitanya Chokkareddy, Co-founder & Chief Innovative Officer, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Chaitanya Chokkareddy-Co-Founder, Ozonetel
Ozonetel Communications is a pioneer of cloud communication solutions and as per Dept. of Telecom (DoT) regulations, calls can be converted to VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) and connected to agents’ phones within the OSP sites’ local network. This will allow organizations with OSP license to extend the call from OSP site to be connected to agents’ phones at their home over VPN.
VPN will allow access of all applications that are accessible to an agent at OSP site. Since Cloud Agent delivers all agent tools including a phone call in browser, it’s a seamless transition.
We are helping all our clients/customers to set up this model of WFH. All those running IP based contact center like Cloud Agent can implement this, but for now it is limited by DoT for only who has the OSP license.
Dineout is India’s largest Dining out and Restaurant tech platform, helping more than 17 million diners monthly discover new restaurants, reserve a table, pay for their bills and get offers and discounts combined with a SaaS product offering to its restaurant partners manage their operations. We talked to Ankit Mehrotra, Co-founder & CEO, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Ankit Mehrotra-Co-Founder, Dineout :
Work from home as a policy is commonly followed by our teams in times of personal need but when we implemented self quarantine policy for the necessary folks, it seemed almost difficult to function. And a time like this where the entire office across all cities, including our Sales team who are majorly on field, to work from home is something we never imagined!
We are leveraging on technologies like Google Hangouts, Slack and Zoomfor work from home arrangements and ensuring continuity of the work.
The start and end to our day is just like before with regular communication and synergy within teams and with clients via video conferencing.
It continues to be challenging and we’re learning on the go, one day at a time with effective and ethical work practices virtually.
Bridged
Bridged uses a combination of AI and 13,000 strong highly skilled workforce to develop unique and vast data at scale significantly improving the quality of data models. We talked to Ashwin Chalam, Founder and CEO, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Ashwin Chalam-Founder, Bridged :
Employees at Bridged have recently started working from home, and we’ve put measures in place to ensure productivity does not decrease. We made sure that all employees have access to requirements such as a laptop, an internet connection, communication gear, work-related hardware & software, etc.
Concerning best practices, employees need to prioritize communication. This involves multiple video chats and protocols for communication and escalation.
Employees should update their teammates on the status of tasks at hand and inform them when they won’t be available during lunch breaks, casual rests, etc.
CarveNiche
CarveNiche is an innovative edtech startup, which is using latest technologies such as machine learning and advanced data analytics to personalise learning for K-12 education. We talked to Avneet Makkar, Founder & CEO, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Avneet Makkar-Founder, CarveNiche :
Have dedicated Work Space while working from home and setting a work schedule and sticking to it.
It is very important to not get distracted and be disciplined about your work as this way, one would be able to finish tasks at hand effectively and efficiently.
Docttocare allows the users to schedule their surgery appointment with the right doctor or hospital, which is best for their health and which is cost-effective. We talked to Sugandha, Founder of Docttocare, about what advice/suggestions she has for effective work from home.
Sugandha-Founder, Docttocare :
Hit the shower- To set the tempo, prepare as if it’s a normal day at work. Take a bath and get dressed.
Communication: Video call is must.
Never work where you sleep.
Set up a workplace at home.
Don’t forget to log off- When the day ends, log off completely and take rest.
Work for 6 hours, that are more productive when WFH.
NowPurchase
NowPurchase offers a curated B2B e-commerce platform with over 50,000 industrial goods. The company has also developed a unique NowPaaS (Purchasing as a Service) for regular buyers where it combines its e-Commerce offering with a purchase management SaaS platform. We talked to Naman Shah, Co-founder, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Naman Shah-Co-founder, NowPurchase :
Understanding this and also the fact that with Work From Home employees can only spare 3-4 hours/day, we decided to start an initiative to complete the ignored but important work- CRM and Management Software implementation.
AppViewX
AppViewX is a modular, low-code software application that enables Certificate Management as well as Network Infrastructure Automation and Orchestration using an intuitive, context-aware, visual workflow. We asked Anand Purusothaman, Founder, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Anand Purusothaman- Founder, AppViewX :
Giving our team the flexibility to define work hours based on their family priorities, especially in this situation, has helped immensely. With kids off from schools and the mounting household chores, we made it clear that we understood this unique situation and supported it. This has gone a long way. We also conduct frequent virtual connects with leaders, informal coffee chats with the team, wellness initiatives and business updates to keep the team reassured that the business is on track, to ensure that they stay connected.
LegalWiz
LegalWiz is focussed on helping early-stage startups and small businesses stay compliant and maintain legal hygiene while maintaining the highest transparency on deliverables. We asked Shrijay Sheth, Founder, about their planning to make work from home effective.
We had planned well and hence were prepared. Team leads were giving full responsibility to ensure that operations and work protocols are maintained. That said, a team of 3 has been deployed to assist any team-member with any problems they may face. I am personally available to any team member who wants to connect and we have frequent discussions on coping with confinement and making work easier.
Tips for Managing Remote Teams effectively
Excess2sell
Excess2sell is India’s Premier and leading b2b excess inventory marketplace which covers multiple verticals. We talked with Mr Rajan Sharma, Founder & CEO, on about their planning to make work from home effective.
Fortunately, we are a tech based start-up and are fully geared to take our work home. So in terms of technology WFH is not much of a problem area for us. However, the complete lockdown has ensured that there is no movement of goods and hence not many fresh deals will happen during this period. We will definitely see the effect on our bottom line this quarter and probably in the next quarter too.
ZingHR
ZingHR is one of the oldest HRM providers. ZingHR is one of the few global ventures which offers almost all web/mobile-based modules from Hire to Retire Solutions with state of the art tech supporting those applications. We talked with Prasad Rajappan, Founder and CEO, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Prasad Rajappan-Founder, ZingHR :
Work from home is an unavoidable situation which we think can be utilised to focus on performance and achieve outcome-oriented results. “Results are the only true sign of excellence.” We think the best part right now that everyone can do irrespective who they are as follows:
Inspire people
Ask them to stay indoors
Practice hygiene
Unlearn and Relearn
Support peers and family
Not to spread Fake News
Pray
Primus Co-Work
We are a hyperlocal, proptech, consumer business which partners with restaurants, that open only during the night, to convert them into co-working places from Mon-Fri/10am-6pm, and have an mobile app using which the customers can look up a co-working place across multiple pincodes, make payment online and book a seat. We talked with Shardul Bayas, Founder, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Shardul Bayas-Founder, Primus Co-Work :
Talk to the team members over a call 2-3 times a day, do a zoom call every alternate day, checking with the team to ensure things are normal, doing followups on the work and preparedness.
Mamaearth
Mamaearth is Asia’s first Madesafe certified brand that offers 100% toxin free & natural baby and mama care products. We talked with Ghazal Alagh, C0-founder, about their planning to make work from home effective.
The first thing we did was to define a tiered policy. We figured out how much of each job role could be done from home (if at all). We then defined goals and deliverables— first as an organization, then on a team level, and finally at the individual level. We continue to do break this down on a monthly, weekly, and even daily basis. This helps everyone at the organization become much more aligned with their goals as we work from home.
Other than that, we realize this is a time of a lot of panic and fear. As a parent myself, I know that having children at home constantly, and not having access to domestic help, can also interfere with productivity at work. So we’re enabling more flexibility within the organization.
We’ve also allowing space for people to articulate their issues – we’ve defined a specific time when people can just talk about what they’re going through. At the same time, we’ve also made space for coming together as a community and sharing positivity — whether it’s through online games, contests, or just sharing photos and videos of our home office, and the small joys of coming together in this challenging time.
Metro and Metro
Metro & Metro is one of the leading manufactures of shoes and allied product in india. We talked with Meenakshi Kalsi, Business Partner, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Meenakshi Kalsi- Business Partner, Metro & Metro :
We can only handle the communication with the customers and the suppliers. But the manufacturing part is totally at the standstill as that requires labour to be present. To assist my team we are supporting them financially and taking care of their needs. There’s a regular meeting done through zoom video calls to check up on them.
Simply Fresh India
Simply fresh AI technology in farming for growing, nourishing, picking and processing. We talked with Sachin Darbarwar, Founder & CEO, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Sachin Darbarwar- Founder, Simply Fresh :
Almost all our corporate employees are working from home which includes teams like – HR, finance, IT, marketing, sales and legal. All our department heads are doing a wonderful job of connecting with their teams virtually and making sure the workflow is smooth as much as possible. We are making use of technology to stay connected and have video calls and group conference calls to maintain the business continuity. It is important during these time that we stay connected virtually and make sure we adhere to needs of our team as required.
Cosmo Films
Cosmo Films is a global leader in specialty films for packaging, lamination and labeling applications. We talked with Mr. Pankaj Poddar, CEO, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Pankaj Poddar-CEO, Cosmo Films :
We being a continuous process plant and also film suppliers to the food packaging industry; come under essential services and hence we have obtained permission to run operations with minimal manpower. Our remaining functions like Sales, Marketing, IT, Finance, Purchase, and HR are working from home to provide backend support to the plant for smooth operations.
As employees are working from home due to COVID 19, we have made necessary arrangements for our employees like the availability of laptops and systems, printers, required stationary and internet connectivity.
Ecolab Digital Centre
Ecolab Digital Centre focuses on finding solutions to real-world problems around water safety, energy conservation, food security, and healthy environments. We talked with Malahar Pinnelli, MD, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Malahar Pinnelli- MD, Ecolab Digital Centre :
We have always been using Video Conferencing to work with the US team, now we have started using those with the team here. Each manager connects with their team every day and that rolls up to the Managing Director. We have every 2 days a week, a mandatory video call to make sure people are still visually connected.
Surmount Business
Surmount Business practices targets to become a strategic partner to entrepreneurs and enterprises to help expand businesses beyond their existing roots, professionalize their operations and enhance their Capital Efficiency. We talked with Niraj Bora, Founder, about their planning to make work from home effective.
Niraj Bora-Founder, Surmount Business :
We organize long video calls instead of just audios, play some games online weekly with the team, and keep in touch more often in order to keep the enthusiasm alive. We have also increased training sessions online in order to keep learning ongoing. People also get more negative be reading and hearing daily cases and hardships on media, so I have tried sharing cover-19 recovery stories discussion with teams as well. A piece in last Sunday’s ET covered that very well and sharing with everyone gave positivity to the team mindset.
For some out of office chats, we have WhatsApp group where team posts any new thing they do like cooking, new indoor game, etc.
FAQs
What is a work from home model?
The Work From Home model allows employees to work remotely. Employees get the flexibility to work from anywhere. It is location-independent.
What essentials do you need to work from home?
Computer/Laptop with webcam and mic
Proper Internet Connection
Essential Software/Tools as per the work/business requirement
How do you connect with employees working from home?
In the WFH model, a virtual office for employees is set up. Offices use the best video conferencing and team collaboration tools to connect with employees. A shared portal for employees is created to share personal as well as professional updates.
The exports of India during the month of April have seen a significant rise. Experts have said that it is mainly due to the low base effect caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Let’s look at the reasons for an increase in the exports of the country.
The exports of India during the month of April have increased to up to 197 % due to the low base effect. A Low base effect is a small change from an initial amount which would be translated into a large percentage change.
The Covid-19 lockdown during the previous year had temporarily stopped the economic activity which has led to the merchandise export of India which nearly increased three times to USD 30.21 billion over the same period year.
The exports have seen an increase of 16.03 % compared to the previous year that is 2019. This indicated that the low base was also supported by an increased demand in the first month of the fiscal year.
The increase in exports during April was mainly increased due to the demand for products such as petroleum, gems, jewellery and engineering products. The latest data has shown that the increase in the cases due to the second wave of Covid-19 and the lockdowns in the country in different regions have not affected the demand for the products.
In the month of April, the value of exports from non-petroleum goods has increased by 200.62 % of up to USD 26.85 billion when compared to April 2019 which was USD 19.44 %. There has been an increase in the value of non-petroleum, gems and jewellery products compared to April 2019 of about 19.89 % which led to an increase of 164.28 %. The imports have amounted to USD 23.51 billion.
Oil imports for April 2019 have amounted to USD 10.8 billion which is an increase of 132.36 % on a year-on-year basis. However, when compared to April 2019 there was a decrease of about 6.62 %.
The preliminary data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has shown that there has also been an increase in the imports of the country. In the month of April, the merchandise imports of India have seen an increase of 165.99 % which is at USD 45.45 billion.
The import of shipments when compared to April 2019 has seen an increase of 7.22 % from USD 42.39 billion. This has resulted in a trade deficit in the country which has increased on a year-on-year basis of 120.34 %.
The increase in the imports was mainly due to the increase in demands for gold and petroleum products as well as electronic goods according to the received data.
Further Estimations
Sharad Kumar Saraf who is the President of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) has conveyed that the impressive growth in exports has made it clear that the order booking position of the exporters of the country is extremely good and it is estimated that the gradual improvement of the situation of the country is expected to increase the exports.
He added that even though there is an increase in exports, the increase in imports and the huge widening of the trade deficit is a concern that should be looked into.
Mahesh Desai who is the chairman of the Engineering and Export Promotion Council of India (EEPC) has said that the recent increase in the Covid-19 cases has increased the risks on the growth and said that the country remains hopeful for the recovery during the year.
He added that the lockdowns and night curfews imposed by various states would create problems regarding to logistics and the workforce in the country.
FAQ
What are the main exports of India?
India’s major exports included petroleum products, gems and jewelry, and drug formulations.
What are India’s traditional exports?
Gems and Jewelry is at the top exporting commodities from India.
What is the rank of India in exports?
India ranks 19 in countries with most number of exports.
Conclusion
The World Trade Organization (WTO) had changed their projection in regards to global trade volume and has an estimation that there would be an increase in the global trade volume by 8% in the year 2021. This may lead to an increase in the exports in India.
Flipkart which is owned by Walmart has announced that it will cover insurance for all its platform sellers in India and waive additional fees. The announcement was made after Amazon’s announcement which said that it would reduce 50 % of the referral fees which the sellers on Amazon’s platform are required to pay this month. Let’s look at the details of the insurance cover provided by Flipkart to its sellers.
Flipkart which is owned by Walmart has announced that it would not charge cancellation and storage fees from its sellers that are listed on their platform. They also announced that they would be providing insurance coverage to its sellers.
The main reason behind this step is to maintain a strong and friendly relationship with its seller base which is more than 3,00,000. Flipkart is the top most e-commerce platform in India and during this unexpected phase due to the global pandemic and increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in India, they are looking to support the sellers who are facing severe disruption.
Details of the Insurance
As several Indian states have imposed a strict restriction on the movement of individuals and cut down the selling of non-essential items on the e-commerce platforms, the Bangalore headquartered company on 7 May 2021 had announced that it would reduce the storage fees of sellers who are using the fulfillment centers of Flipkart and they are also reducing the cancellation fee till the end of this month.
The company had announced that it would bear a 100% premium for Covid insurance to all the sellers that are listed on their digital platform. The company conveyed that they would cover a consultation fees and hospitalization fees in between INR 50,000 and INR 3,00,000.
Flipkart had also announced that the company is making it easier for sellers to access working capital from the firm without any increase or addition on the cost.
The company has also taken a step to increase the period for Seller Protection Fund from 14 days to 30 days in order to make claims on returned products. Flipkart also conveyed that they would make their policies and performance metrics much easier for the sellers so that the state-wise lockdown doesn’t affect them.
Additional Steps taken by Flipkart
The company has announced that it has partnered with Vriddhi, which is a Supplier Development Programme in India by Walmart. The main aim of the programme is to host webinars for the small businesses in order to share the best practices which will help them to stay afloat during the crisis and ensure the safety of their workforce.
Jagjeet Harode who is the senior director and the head of the marketplace at Flipkart had conveyed in the statement that in these testing times, it is the company’s consistent efforts to support the seller partners who are facing a lot of challenges relating to operation in the country due to the pandemic.
He also added that as a democratic marketplace, the company would want to make sure that lakhs of seller partners would be able to continue their operations and keep their economic engines running.
FAQ
Is flipkart delivering non essentials?
Amazon and Flipkart have suspended delivery of non-essential items
Who is the founder of Flipkart?
Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal are the founders of Flipkart.
What is the revenue of Flipkart in 2020?
346.1 billion Indian rupees
Conclusion
India has been witnessing a huge increase in the infections and has recorded the highest single day spike in the number of cases around the world. The lockdowns implemented in various states and the major metro cities in the country have affected the e-commerce firms and their sellers. This would be a great initiative from the company in order to support their seller base in the country.
Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved byPfizer.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that the US was currently manufacturing doses for all six potential vaccines backed by President Donald Trump’s government across more than 23 manufacturing facilities. These includes vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, which are all in late-stage testing.
Pfizer is a research-based multinational biopharmaceutical corporation that develops, manufactures, and distributes healthcare products. Medicines and vaccines are part of its global portfolio. The Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine that is marketed under the brand name Comirnaty. It is given to people aged 16 and up to protect them from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
This article will give you a complete Company Profile of Pfizer. Know all about Pfizer history, business model, founders, revenue, acquisition, covid-19 vaccine & more…
Pfizer/BioNTech has filed an application with the US Food and Drug Administration for full FDA approval of its Covid-19 vaccine for people aged 16 and up as of May 2021, according to the companies. This is the first Covid-19 vaccine to be evaluated by the FDA for complete approval in the United States.
The FDA has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s mRNA two-shot vaccine for use in the United States. To date, 170 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed throughout the United States, according to the firms.
“We are proud of the tremendous progress we’ve made since December in delivering vaccines to millions of Americans, in collaboration with the U.S. Government,” Albert Bourla CEO of Pfizer, said in a statement.
“We look forward to working with the FDA to complete this rolling submission and support their review, with the goal of securing full regulatory approval of the vaccine in the coming months.”
Pfizer is a research-based multinational biopharmaceutical corporation that develops, manufactures, and distributes healthcare products. Medicines and vaccines are part of its global portfolio.
Cholesterol-lowering Lipitor, pain-relieving Celebrex and Lyrica, pneumonia vaccine Prevnar, and erectile dysfunction medication Viagra, as well as arthritis medicine Enbrel, antibiotic Zyvox, and blood-thinning Eliquis, are among the company’s top prescription items. Generic medications and consumer health goods are also manufactured and sold by the company.
In partnership with BioNTech SE, a German biotechnology firm, Pfizer recently produced an mRNA-based vaccine for COVID-19. The vaccine’s efficacy has been verified in several trials to be between 90 and 100 percent.
Pfizer – Mission and Vision
The vision statement of Pfizer is – “Innovate to bring therapies to patients that significantly improve their lives.”
Pfizer mission statement is “to become the world’s most valued company to all of these people.” It zeroes down on the achievements that the company desires while at the same time meeting the expectations of all its patients. It focuses on the company’s desired outcomes while still meeting all of its patients’ needs.
Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, cousins who had immigrated to the United States from Ludwigsburg, Germany, founded Pfizer in1849.
The company, which was based on Bartlett Street in Williamsburg, New York, developed chemical compounds, including an antiparasitic called santonin. Both in their mid-20s, the two men started a fine chemicals company in a Brooklyn factory with a loan from Pfizer’s father. Pfizer’s chemist skills were combined with Erhart’s confectioner training in the company’s first product, a palatable anti-parasitic drug that tasted like toffee. It was a huge success, and it set the tone for the company’s future growth.
The American Civil War, which broke out shortly after in 1862, had an equal effect on the emerging pharmaceutical industry as it did on American society as a whole. Drug manufacturers were just as much a part of the “first industrial war” as arms manufacturers. The sudden demand for massive amounts of painkillers and antiseptics for the Union armies, like that of their rival Squibb, presented a huge opportunity to increase production. Pfizer’s sales had doubled since the beginning of the war in 1868, and their product ranges had greatly expanded.
Following the battle, Pfizer began to concentrate on industrial chemicals rather than drugs, manufacturing citric acid for the burgeoning soft drink industry, which fueled the expansion of brands including Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper in the 1880s. For several years, this was their mainstay, setting the groundwork for their continued expansion. When the supply of tartaric acid was interrupted by the civil war and higher tariffs, Pfizer expanded its production to become the leading chemical supplier in the United States.
Pfizer – Covid-19 Vaccine
In April 2020, Pfizer collaborated with BioNTech to start developing a COVID-19 vaccine in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The BNT162b2 vaccine candidate is an mRNA vaccine. The drug-maker announced in November 2020 that results from Phase 3 clinical trials showed the vaccine was safe and reliable, with a 95 percent efficacy rate. It needs two doses, separated by 21 days.
Pfizer and BioNTech submitted an emergency use permission request to the FDA a few days after the positive clinical trial results were announced. The FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for distribution in the United States on December 11, 2020.
Pfizer’s company name is after the founder Charles Pfizer and its logo is shaped like a tablet of medicine. The oval-shaped logo is a powerful brand identity that conveys a message of optimism, well-being, and progress. As opposed to the initial limit “P,” the letter “f” is intentionally made larger.
The tagline outlines Pfizer’s purpose, “Breakthroughs that change patients’ lives.”
Pfizer’s Company Logo
Pfizer – Business Model
Pfizer Innovative Health and Pfizer Essential Health are the company’s two commercial divisions.
Pfizer Innovative Health is dedicated to the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and vaccines. Internal medicine, vaccination, oncology, inflammation and immunology, rare diseases, and consumer healthcare are among IH’s therapeutic fields.
Legacy labels, branded generics, generic sterile injectable drugs, biosimilars, and infusion systems are all included in the Pfizer Essential Health category. EH also has a research and development department, as well as a contract manufacturing division. Prevnar 13, Xeljanz, Eliquis, Lipitor, Celebrex, Pristiq, and Viagra are some of the company’s brands.
The table below highlights some of the key financial metrics of Pfizer (extracted from the company’s annual reports)
Financial Metric
2020 (In Millions)
2019 (In Millions)
Total Income
$9,616
$16,273
PAT(Margin)
-11.89
219.75
Equity Share Capital
45.75
45.75
Net Fixed Assets
2513.05
2127.65
Pfizer – Revenue and Growth
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine sales exceeded analyst expectations by about 60%. As of mid-April 2021, the company produced 1.6 billion doses of the vaccine under signed contracts. Pfizer’s operating sales increased by 8% even without revenue from the COVID-19 vaccine.
With exclusivity for Pfizer’s second-best-selling medication, Lyrica, expected to expire in June, the pharma expects a $2.6 billion sales hit from competitive pressures, almost $1 billion more than in 2018.
As of November 2020, Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, made in partnership with the German firm BioNTech, was stored at subzero temperatures, and there were lots of distribution challenges in rolling it out in the weeks ahead.
Pfizer is “running at critical supply limitations,” Dr. Bourla, the CEO said, adding that he hopes the government deploys the Defense Production Act to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, the FDA contacted Pfizer about a different problem with its vaccine. According to some press accounts, several pharmacists giving the shots found that each vial contained more than the planned five doses. They wondered if they could eke out another dose, or even two, from the leftovers.
Pfizer – Future Plans
Pfizer has revealed plans to increase sales in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia, which are all developing markets. The organization will use its global reach and product portfolio to provide health solutions to the rising and underserved population of middle-income patients in these areas.
The company identified four factors that will aid its expansion in the developing Asian pharmaceutical market, which is worth $47 billion. Expanding its current presence in high-growth markets, establishing leadership in oncology, tailoring portfolio offerings to local consumer needs, and leveraging global manufacturing and R&D in Asia are among these factors.
Pfizer expects to spend $5 billion in capital projects in the United States over the next five years, including expanding its manufacturing footprint in the country. In 2019, it announced an additional half-billion-dollar investment in Sanford, North Carolina, for the construction of a cutting-edge gene therapy manufacturing facility.
Pfizer – FAQs
What does Pfizer do?
Pfizer is a research-based multinational biopharmaceutical corporation that develops, manufactures, and distributes healthcare products. Medicines and vaccines are part of its global portfolio.
Who founded Pfizer?
Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, cousins who had immigrated to the United States from Ludwigsburg, Germany, founded Pfizer in 1849.
Which companies do Pfizer compete with?
The top competitors of Pfizer are Merck, Novartis, BMS, Johnson & Johnson, GSK, Abbott, Cipla, Roche, Eli Lilly, Bayer.
The coronavirus pandemic has led mostly all the companies to ask their employees to work from home. This was not possible few years back but now it is a reality. Recently, Google had announced about it plan for a new working policy for its employees. Let’s look at Google’s new working policy and the effectiveness of it.
Sundar Pichai who is the CEO of Alphabet and Google has announced a new working policy for the company’s employees that is a hybrid model. The new working model will allow most of the employees to work out of their office for 3 days in a week and the rest employees to work remotely every day.
As the company is shifting to the hybrid work week model the company is expected to provide employees with more choices which include more global locations and remote work.
According to the model, around 60 % of the Google’s employees will have to come to the office at least a few days a week, the other 20 % will work in new locations and the final 20 % of the employees will be able to work from home.
Sundar Pichai conveyed in a blog post that majority of the employees would want to be on campus sometime since Google’s campus has been at the heart of their community. He added that still some of the employees would like to have the flexibility of working from home or spending time in another city for a part of the year or some would even prefer moving there permanently.
He said that Google’s workspace in the future would have enough freedom for its employees to explore all these possibilities.
The main focus of the hybrid model is that the employees will get an option where they can work in the office for about 3 days in the office and for the rest 2 days, they will get an option to work from where they would prefer working from.
He added that it may vary according to the roles of certain employees as the job would demand them to be on-site for some projects.
The company is expecting to provide access to employees to choose from the options such as being able to apply to move to another office by the mid of June. The company is also planning to offer opportunities for the employees to apply for a complete work from home option.
In an effort by the company to allow more flexibility, the employees will get an option to temporarily work from another location which would exclude their main office for up to 4 weeks in a year. This would be possible only if there is an approval.
Google is said to always have been the leader when it comes to working conditions and practices related to people said Sandeep Das who has worked as a Strategy Consultant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Marico and Accenture. He added that the other companies will have to follow them.
He added that he finds Google’s model more effective, sound and realistic as its main focus is flexibility and choice with reducing the time for transportation of the employees, collaboration at work, time to log off and also the control over an individual’s life.
He adds that this would let working women continue their work and build their career and not to drop off in between their careers.
Bhavna Dalal, leadership development specialist and executive coach to Bloomberg, American Express, Google, HSBC, Oracle and Morgan Stanley said that in the long term there will be an improvement in the productivity when individuals choose to work from a place or surrounding which makes them feel comfortable and the best.
FAQ
What does hybrid work mean?
A hybrid team is a flexible work structure where some employees work remotely and other team members work from a central location or office.
Who is the CEO of Google 2021?
Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google 2021.
What are the benefits of hybrid working?
A hybrid workplace helps keep employees safe during the pandemic, Also it eliminates the time consumed in commuting during peak hours.
Conclusion
Work from home will soon become the new normal as not only Google but many other companies are working towards finding the possibilities of continuing it even after the pandemic. Companies such as Infosys, TCS and Spotify have already begun testing the possibilities of these hybrid working models.
As we entered the new decade, the pandemic took a major turn. Being stuck at our home with the deadly virus outside has made lives really tough for people. It resulted in anxious behaviour and massive depression symptoms.
People are suffering from a huge breakdown during the pandemic. The second wave of Covid-19 is majorly affecting the mental harmony of people. As the cases are rising, things are getting more difficult and concerned.
What if I am next? Will my family survive this never-ending pandemic? How should I prevent my mental health? And plenty of such questions are stuck in our mind on loop. Our mental health needs proper caring and concern.
To our knowledge, we can’t control the global pandemic situation on our own, but what we can do is prevent ourselves by following safety measures and taking care of our mental health.
When we feel anxious, we prefer taking a walk around the park or meeting our close ones. But due to this dreadful situation outside, it’s better to take care of ourselves at our home. It’s okay not to be okay during such tough times! But, do not lose hope over these rising numbers. It is a tough time, indeed, but stay positive and take care of yourself. This too shall pass!
Well, before coming to any decisions, take a pause and think about what makes you happy. This pandemic has allowed us to take a break from our busy lives and give ourselves some time. Focus on the pros before you list out the cons.
Here are some tips and methods that you must take a read, for your mental wellness.
Things have absolutely changed as compared to before Covid situation. Many startups and businesses are going through some major downfall. The revenue and responses are degrading and the true potential of entrepreneurs cannot be discovered. Meanwhile, the cases are rising with dreadful speed. But, we know it’s not entirely in our hands, so instead of stressing over the corona cases, focus on brushing up your skills and your work through a digital platform.
Utilize your time and energy towards the productive aspect of your life. Learn new skills and work on the digital platform for the uprise of your business and work. Seek out every opportunity and utilize it by being productive over your work. Evaluate your working performance and strategize on the areas where you lack. This would help you to be a productive and better version of yourself.
When we look back to the first wave of the pandemic in the year 2020, we think about the chaos and the non-productive activities. Through the year 2020, we wasted a lot of time and ended up being entirely inactive. But, now as we again go through the same phase, we need to be more proactive and not repeat our mistakes from the first wave.
We went through some rollercoaster of emotion back then, but now we need to focus on our priority and deviate our mind from the stress to something we like doing. Take a tiny step ahead and get started with what you need to utilize your energy in.
We are all different from each other and so are our minds. Every human being is made structurally, emotionally, mentally, and physically different from others. Therefore, the requirements and needs for each individual are different and special.
We need to identify those special and distinct needs of our mental health and strategize our way to have them. Our mind is very delicate, so it requires special care. Every individual has their way of dealing with situations.
Some like working on themselves to cope with mental stress while others might need some alone peacetime with themselves. We all are unique and special in our way. So, focus on your mental health needs.
Not everyone is a writer, well, that’s true. But, writing your emotions doesn’t mean you have to show them to someone, you are doing that for yourself. You are fighting your battles and you are expressing them in your writing. You do not have to write a masterpiece or something.
Just write down your emotions and work on your mental peace. Writing is an excellent form of expression that helps you gain mental resilience. Psychologists say writing is an incredible therapy that lets your deepest emotions come out on paper. Write about your thoughts, frustrations and experiences on the pandemic and how it is affecting your mental health.
When we feel anxious, writing is the best way to calm down. This would absolutely help you in knowing facts and things that are majorly affecting your mental health.
Our mental health is affecting the most during the pandemic and for that, we need to work on ourselves to face those devastating consequences. Writing is the best way to cope with it. Try it and you will feel the difference.
Don’t believe WhatsApp forwards
There are a lot of rumours out there that we are making so much panic among the people. When we know that there is still hope outside and doctors, bed are absolutely available for those who are suffering and people are helping, it helps our mental stress to calm down. And we get the comfort that we need. But, those rumours spreading around are making things worse for people. It is affecting our mental health so much.
It’s not that you should not keep yourself updated, but don’t obsess over the numbers and situations. Check once to keep yourself informed about the situation but, don’t believe everything that comes on WhatsApp. Check the updates from an authentic source. And, stay safe.
FAQ
What are the 7 components of mental health?
The Seven Dimensions include Physical, Intellectual, Environmental, Vocational, Social, Emotional and Spiritual health.
How can I improve my mental happiness?
Manage your stress levels, Boost your self-esteem, and Talk and share, These tips will help you improve your mental happiness.
Does mental health bring happiness?
According to the Origins of Happiness report, eliminating mental health issues such as depression and anxiety would increase happiness by 20%.
Conclusion
We don’t have any specific idea on when this pandemic is ending. But, we should not lose hope for it. We do know this will be over. And until then, we need to take proper care of our health as well as our mental health. Stay home and stay safe.
The second wave of the Covid-19 cases has been increasing in the country for the past few months. The daily active cases are rising and currently, India has seen the greatest number of single-day cases around the world. The country has a total of around 2.15 crore active cases and 2.34 lakh deaths as of 7 May 2021.
The vaccine drive had started widely across the country majorly concentrating on the people for above 45 years of age. From 1 May 2021, the Prime Minister of the country had announced that anyone above the age of 18 years could get vaccinated.
Here is the list of mobile applications and the websites you can use for finding the slots for covid-19 vaccination.
CoWIN remains the major app for androids and a website no matter though which website you try to book your vaccine. It is the only website and android users to book the slot for the Covid-19 vaccine online. The CoWIN app portal is also accessible through the Aarogya Setu app for both android and iOS users.
The CoWIN app works in the most traditional way, you will have to enter your pin code in order to look for the available slots for the vaccination.
Getjab.in
Getjab.in is a website that helps you in notifying the availability of slots for the Covid-19 vaccination. Unlike CoWIN this website will notify the users through email notifications when there will be an availability of the slot for the vaccination drive.
The website is run by the alumni of the Indian School of Business Shyam Sunder with his colleagues. The site would ask for the users’ information such as the name, location, email address and an optional phone number.
In order to get notified users will have to register on the website. Getjab.in claims that the data which is shared once will not be reshared or sold to anyone else. The site adds a note on its webpage which says “Get notified by email whenever slots open up for 18 – 45 years age group.
Getjab.in Website
Under45.in
Under45.in is another website that shares the data of the availability of slots for the Covid-19 vaccine. The website works in a much more similar way compared to Getjab.in but it does not send notifications through emails.
The website will help in finding the availability of vaccine centers in a particular area and in addition to that the developer of the website Berty Thomas is providing the links for telegram groups through his Twitter account.
Will soon be rolling out Alerts feature for https://t.co/VXNLXkLu8C The alerts will be via @telegram . Will first be rolled out for major city districts. Watch this thread!
The telegram groups will provide the same slot availability options. When compared to Getjab.in, Under45.in requires only the information regarding the state and the district and it doesn’t require your name or any other personal details such as email and phone number.
This makes Under45.in a notable website for users who are concerned about their privacy. Based on the recent searches the site would contain the list of the slots that are available.
Finslot.in
Findslot.in is another website that will help users find the availability of vaccine centers across the country. Findslot.in works in a similar way to Under45.in. The website uses the API of the CoWIN website.
Finslot.in works much more similar to the CoWIN portal itself. The users will have to enter their different pin codes individually to know the availability of slots for the Covid-19 vaccine. There are claims that the website can be unreliable at times as it failed to show the availability of centers even while there were available slots in specific centers.
However, the website claims that the availability of the slots in centers would change in real-time. Users of the website can reach the developers through Twitter if they face any kind of issue.
WhatsApp MyGov Corona Helpdesk
WhatsApp also helps the citizens of the county find Covid-19 vaccine centers and slots through the WhatsApp MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot. This was launched in March 2020. The process to find the slot and a vaccine center is considered to be very simple.
WhatsApp MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot
The users will have to save the number 9013151515 on their Android or iOS smartphone. Users can also use the chatbot using their desktop through WhatsApp Web.
Once the MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot is launched on your WhatsApp, the users will have to send a text with hi or hello to get a response from the bot. The automated response will ask users to select an option for their Covid-19 related information. You will also find an option for finding the vaccine center nearest to their location. Users also have an option to chat with the chatbot in Hindi just by sending the text Hindi or typing it in the Hindi language.
Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker on Google Sheets
Amit Agarwal who is the programmer and founder of Labnol has set up an automated system using Google sheets. The system will notify the users through emails whenever there is an availability of vaccines in their location. The project has an open-source license which lets anyone access it.
Get email alerts when #COVID19Vaccine becomes available in a vaccination center near you. (Built with Google Sheets)
They will just have to make a copy of the tracker in order to get started. Here are the steps to be followed to activate the mail notification.
1. You will have to make a copy of the vaccine tracker Google Sheet.
2. Then you will have to click the Vaccine Tracker Option and click enable.
3. Use Google account to authorize the app.
4. You will have to click enable again on the vaccine tracker
5. There will be an appearance of an alert box
6. You will have to enter your details such as pin code, email id, age group etc.
7. You will have to click on email alert and you will get a notification whenever the vaccines are available.
Paytm
Paytm has launched a new tool in its mini app store which will help in finding the availability of vaccines. The tool will help the users to find the availability of vaccines on specific dates by entering the pin code or the details about the district for the eligible age groups that is 18+.
The users can also receive alerts on a real time basis on the app to receive information about the slots for vaccines.
PhonePe
PhonePe also has launched a new tool in its mobile application in order to help the citizens in finding the availability of the vaccines. The users will have to open the mobile application and provide details such as pin code or location and enter the age category for the vaccines.
You will have two options that is 18+ or 45+and also choose the type of vaccine according to the preference of the user.
FAQ
Who are affected by Covid-19 in IPL?
Wriddhiman Saha of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Amit Mishra of Delhi Capitals were affected by Covid-19.
When we can register for Covid vaccine?
Registration of Covid vaccine will start from 1 May.
How many Covid vaccines are produced daily in India?
So far, India is producing roughly 2 million vaccine doses each day.
Conclusion
The Covid-19 vaccination drive for the 18 + years of age is expected to start very soon in the country since the cases are increasing on a regular basis and most of the states have opted for a complete lockdown.
The increase in the Covid-19 cases has led to a lot of tech companies and big corporates helping India during the crisis. The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic has hit India really hard with the daily cases rising and the deaths in the country increasing.
The citizens of the country are finding it hard to access the basic medical requirements. This is when a lot of companies have come forward to help India. Let’s look at the latest donations from big companies for India in order to fight the Covid-19.
Pfizer which is an American based pharmaceutical company has announced that it will send medicines for the treatment of Covid-19 to India. The company announced that it would send medicines worth USD 70 million (around INR 510 crores) to India from its distribution centres.
Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer said in an email that to the employees of India that the company is deeply concerned about the critical condition faced by India due to Covid-19.
Mahindra Group
The chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra has launched a project in Maharashtra called as Oxygen on Wheels. This project will focus on the easy transportation of oxygen from production plants to hospitals and homes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Anand Mahindra had posted a tweet that conveyed that in the current situation oxygen is the key to reduce mortality and the problem is not the production of oxygen but the transportation and he added that the company is trying to bridge the gap between that.
Sony Group
Sony Group had also recently announced that the company will provide a donation of around USD 1 million (around INR 7.4 crore) in order to help India amid the Covid-19 crisis. The company said that it would procure PCR testing machines and oxygen for medical purposes by donating the amount to UNICEF and other organizations.
Qualcomm
Qualcomm which is a chipmaker had recently announced that it would provide a donation of around USD 4 million (around INR 30 crores) to India amid the surge of Covid-19. The company said that one of the key strains faced by the company is the shortage of medical supplies and lifesaving equipment.
The company said that they have been thriving hard and actively working towards finding ways to provide relief to the Indian community through philanthropic activities.
SpiceJet has announced that the cargo arm of the company SpiceXpress has airlifted more than 4,400 oxygen concentrators from different countries such as Hong Kong, USA, Singapore and China in the last two weeks.
The company added that they have transported around 34 million doses of vaccines for Covid-19 to India between January 12 and April 12 and also around 700 concentrators from China to New Delhi.
Google
Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and Alphabet announced that the company will be donating an amount of INR 135 crores to India in order to fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The company will provide funding for two grants.
The first grant will be given to GiveIndia in order to provide cash assistance to the families that have been affected due to the Covid-19 crisis. The grant amount is expected to be around INR 20 crore.
The second grant will be given to UNICEF in order to provide oxygen and the required medical supplies and testing equipment.
Xiaomi India
Xiaomi which is one of the leading smartphone companies in India had announced that it would provide an amount of around INR 3 crore to India. The amount will be for procuring 1000+ oxygen concentrators.
The CEO of the company conveyed that these oxygen concentrators will be supplied to the hospitals and the state governments according to the requirement. The company also announced that it is working together with GiveIndia to help the frontline workers of the country by raising a capital of INR 1 crore.
Microsoft
The CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadela had announced that the company will help India in purchasing critical oxygen concentrators and also added that the company will use its resources, voice and technology to help India fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amazon
Amazon India has been collaborating with different organizations in order to urgently lift oxygen concentrators of around 8,000 and 500 BiPAP machines from Singapore. The company conveyed that it would take care of the cost for lifting the concentrators and BiPAP machines through Air India and other national carriers.
The CEO of Paytm Vijay Shekhar Sharma had announced on Sunday that the Paytm foundation will raise an amount of INR 2 crore through donations for oxygen concentrators. Paytm also added that they would add the same amount of money towards the donation from the company.
Ford Motors
Ford Motors which is an American based automobile major has announced that the company will donate surgical masks of around 50 lakhs in number, 1 lakh N95 masks and 50,000 gowns in order to fight against the Covid-19 second wave in India.
The company said that Ford Fund will also donate around USD 200,000 (around INR 1.5 crore) to support various organizations that are providing Covid-19 relief in Brazil and India.
One Plus one of the premium mobile phone brands in India has said that it would donate around 400 oxygenators in order to help the Indians to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The One Plus Global community has also expressed their interest in making contributions for the country.
The company has also tied up with GiveIndia in order to raise funds for the frontline workers in India.
FAQ
What is the current Covid situation in India?
India is in the midst of second wave of COVID-19 and is recording over 300,000 daily coronavirus infections.
Who issued the official name of COVID-19?
The official names COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 were issued by the WHO on 11 February 2020.
Which Covid vaccine is used in India?
Covishield vaccine, manufactured by Serum Institute of India, and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin are being used for the vaccination programme.
Conclusion
The second wave has been increasing and the situation of the country is worsening as days pass. The governments and different organizations are working together in fighting the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. There are also many individual volunteers and foundations providing support to fight the country against the deadly virus.
