Coimbatore industrialists once again jump to the city's rescue to protect public against Covid-19

Coimbatore: The industrialists of Coimbatore have once again stepped into rescue public from an ongoing pandemic outbreak and aid them in fighting against Covid-19.

The industrial city of Coimbatore is renowned for its superior quality and cost-effective products in various sectors like textile, automobile spare parts, motor pump sets, wet grinders, castings, engineering and various other manufacturing products. There are over 1.5 lakh registered industries and over 20,000 micro industries functioning at various places across Coimbatore district and over 6 lakh people constitute the workforce. 

Coimbatore has been hard-hit due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic outbreak as well as the lockdown in force. At present, only very few industries which come under the continuous process sector are allowed to function. In spite of the fact that the manufacturing process has been very badly hit, it is noteworthy that entrepreneurs did not choose to just sit back in their homes and think of their businesses. Instead, all of them have voluntarily stepped forward to help society.

During the initial stages of the pandemic, the industrial community started providing masks, sanitizers, PPE kits and various other essential medical supplies to CMCH and ESI hospitals. But after a few days when the situation turned for the worse, industrialists started to contribute heavily by establishing Covid-care centres, providing oxygen generating plants and arranging temporary hospital infrastructure with hundreds of beds with oxygen facility. Keeping in mind the health and hygiene of patients, industrialists have also stepped forward to take charge of housekeeping tasks at CMCH and ESI hospitals.



During the Chief Minister M K Stalin's visit to Coimbatore during the Covid-19 lockdown, nearly 40 crores were donated and apart from that over Rs. 20 crores worth relief efforts were contributed by the entrepreneurs. Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) President, Ramesh Babu said, "It is really our pleasure to help people to fight against pandemic outbreak. On behalf of our Association we have given space of four halls in ouriInternational trade fair complex (CODISSIA) which have been converted as Temporary Covid Care centres. Apart from this our members have contributed and facilitated ESI hospital in establishing oxygen generating plants etc. We will continue our help till the situation turns to normalcy," he added. 



The Southern India Engineering Manufacturers Association (SIEMA) President, Karthik said, "On behalf of our Association, we have contributed Covid-19 relief to the tune of Rs. 10 crores. We are continuously providing free meals to the poor. Thus far, 1,48,000 meals have been given to the poor. we are happy to help the society in the toughest of times."



The Confederation of Real Estate Developers of India (CREDAI) Tamil Nadu, Secretary, Abishek said, "CREDAI along with CREDAI TN and with the city chapters of Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Erode and Trichy did a tremendous amount of work in Tamil Nadu for the last 25 days which no other industry association has done thus far towards Covid relief in Tamil Nadu. 

We have created 5,500 temporary oxygen supported beds across Tamil Nadu in 13 districts and 39 locations, with the support of many Corporations, in a short span of time. We took just five days to create each facility. Seven of these facilities were inaugurated by the Chief Minister personally. We created a tremendous amount of goodwill among people, officials, the Chief Minister and other politicians," he added.

Contribution made by CREDAI chapters

Temporary Covid beds

1. Chennai - 90 beds

2. Coimbatore - 900 beds

3. Madurai - 400 beds

4. Erode - 300 beds

.....

Oxygen concentrators

2. Madurai 26 Nos.

3. Coimbatore Oxygen Generator 100KL to ESI Hospital

.....

Contributions to CM Public Relief Fund 

1. Chennai: Rs. 1.5 crores

2. Erode: Rs. 1.0 crores

3. Trichy: Rs. 25 Lakhs

4. Coimbatore Rs. 27 Lakhs

...

Coimbatore

100 beds to GCT COLLEGE TO DRO

300 beds to CMCH ANNEX Govt Arts college

100 KL oxygen generator to ESI Hospital.



The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, President, Balasubramanian said, "Initially, we supplied essential medical supplies such as masks, sanitizers, PPE kits to CMCH and ESI Hospitals. Following that, we spoke with the Deans of both the Government Hospitals and found out that shortage of nurses and housekeeping were the most challenging issues. Hence ICCI, Coimbatore along with Race Course Residents Welfare Association, Coimbatore Cancer Foundation jointly hired 107 nurses across Tamil Nadu with the help of Government support and now all of them have started working in CMCH, ESI Hospital and Coimbatore Corporation. 

The PSG management has helped by providing accommodation for all the nurses inside their college hostel and providing food. They have also helped in providing transportation facilities for the nurses to go to the hospitals and return back to hostels. We also made arrangements for house keeping staff at CMCH and ESI to keep the premises clean and hygienic. We will continue to do our best," he reiterated.



Aquasub Engineering, Vice President, Krishnakumar said, "Aquasub Engineering through their charitable trust, Meher Eira Charitable Trust has donated Rs.1 crore to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Relief Fund. An oxygen generator with a flow rate of 450 LPM which can feed 90 cylinders per day, costing around Rs. 68 lakhs was donated to Government Hospital, Coimbatore. A similar generator costing Rs.68 lakhs is being donated to Vasavi Hospital, Bengaluru. Another oxygen generator with 530 LPM capacity costing around Rs. 72 lakhs was donated to Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. 

ICU ventilators with 15-patient monitors worth Rs. 47 lakhs have been supplied to SMVS Swaminarayan Hospital in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 50 oxygen concentrators have also been supplied to various hospitals. A power generator of 40 KVA capacity for the ICU of Government Hospital, Namakkal was also donated. During the Covid-19 period last year, Rs.1 crore was donated to the TN CM's Relief Fund. Apart from all this, we have also provided donations to various institutions," he added.