In the wake of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian automotive industry, represented by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) is working relentlessly to support the Government and citizens of the country to fight the pandemic.
Augmenting availability of oxygen for medical use
As an immediate measure, many automotive manufacturers recently halted production in their manufacturing units to ramp-up the supply of oxygen for medical purposes.
In addition, the industry has already cumulatively donated more than 2,030 Oxygen Cylinders, over 4,404 Oxygen Concentrators. In addition, 27 Oxygen Generating Plants have been installed in various locations.
With a unified approach, the industry has gone an extra mile to tie-up with PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) plant manufacturers in order to scale up their capacities for producing Oxygen by 20 times. These companies are mostly small-scale units with limited resources. Interventions by the Automotive Industry included procurement of critical components, facilitating imports, providing skilled manpower and working capital which have helped de-bottleneck their operations, thereby boosting production of PSA Oxygen Generators.
These initiatives would help in sustaining an uninterrupted flow of medical oxygen to different hospitals and medical facilities.
Strengthening healthcare infrastructure and hygiene
Members have also come forward to set up state-of-the-art permanent hospitals and temporary medical care facilities which include normal beds, oxygen beds and special ICU beds. Capacities of over 4,475+ hospital beds have already been added across the country in the past few weeks. In addition, the industry has also supplied more than 35 Mobile Units and created about 20 Covid Relief Camps to augment healthcare infrastructure.
More than 132 Ventilators, 349 BiPAP machines and 250 HFNCs (High-Flow Nasal Cannulas) have already been donated by members to support the healthcare facilities.
Unique initiatives such as mobile clinics, tele ICUs, tele consultations, undertaken by Automotive Industry, have also helped to facilitate all possible assistance to COVID-19 care centers in rural areas across the country.
Since the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, Industry continues to contribute PPE kits, Masks, Meals, Dry Ration Kits, Thermometers, Pulse Oximeters, Basic Medicines, etc., to the society. The industry has already distributed over 60 Lacs+ Meals, Dry Ration Kits, PPEs, Masks, etc. during the 2nd wave in April-May 2021. Large scale sanitization drives are also being taken up by members in the nearby communities.
Amidst this unprecedented crisis, such proactive steps taken by vehicle manufacturers and auto component makers helped to save lives, when every minute was crucial.
Commenting on the contributions of the auto industry, Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM, said: “Indian auto industry stands strongly with the Government in the country’s battle against COVID-19. Government is leading from the front and we continue to support them in the best possible manner. The industry has come forward to augment supply of medical oxygen and provide other medical needs. It has also created safe working conditions for all its employees. We are committed to ensure that this pandemic does not leave long-lasting scars on our economy and people.”
Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, said: “The automotive industry is committed to supporting the society and the Government in fighting the second wave of Covid-19. It is heartening that the industry has taken several measures across the country to support and strengthen the medical & healthcare infrastructure by donating medical equipment, oxygen concentrators & cylinders, hospital beds, and setting up of hospitals and oxygen relief camps, amongst others. The auto components industry is committed to stand by the nation in its fight against the pandemic by securing both lives and livelihood.”