Company intensifies its fight against Covid-19 by donating critical healthcare requirements to the Government of Kerala

India’s leading Content Company, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEE)  in line with its national level CSR drive against Covid-19, officially handed over critical healthcare equipment to the state of Kerala, further strengthening its fight against Covid-19. In the presence of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Government of Kerala, K. K. Shailaja, the healthcare requirements were handed over to the Kerala Government.

The Company will be utilizing the sanctioned CSR budget (for the fight against Covid-19) to provide the following essentials to the state:

·         Ambulances – 25 ambulances to be donated to the state.

·         PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Kits – 4,000 kits donated to the state.

Punit Goenka, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ZEE said, “The Kerala Government has taken strong steps to ensure that the health and safety of its citizens is safeguarded. ZEE is committed to provide a strong support to the state in its fight against Covid-19. We sincerely hope that the donated healthcare requirements will further enable the state to address the challenges faced due to the ongoing pandemic .”

Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala said, “The Government of Kerala has taken all the necessary step to keep the people of the state safe and follow all precautions against Covid-19. We would like to thank Mr. Punit Goenka and ZEE for their support in this time of need towards Covid-19 response.”

K K Shailaja, Minister for Health, Social Justice and Woman and Child Development said, ‘Zee entertainment as part of their CSR initiative have contributed 25 ambulances and 4000 PPE kits which I would say this is a great help to the state. We are facing the difficulty in transporting patients from their homes to hospitals and the ambulances given by ZEE would help us in solving that to an extent. The 4000 PPE kits would also help in our fight against Covid-19.  I appreciate ZEE for this and am also happy to know that they have helped other states in India as well with such contributions in strengthening their fight against Covid-19.’

Dr. Rajan N. Khobragade IAS, Principal Secretary, National Health Mission said, ‘The CSR initiative of ZEE entertainment in helping Kerala with 25 ambulances and 4,000 PPE kits is highly appreciable and also a meaningful intervention of a corporate’s responsibility towards the society. When ZEE approached us with the initiative, our Chief Minister had asked for a solution to solve the transportation difficulties of patients.  ZEE agreed to this and helped us with the ambulances. Such gestures would give the state an additional strength to fight diseases.’

In its national level CSR drive towards enhancing the country’s healthcare infrastructure against Covid-19, ZEE had committed to donate over 240 ambulances, over 46,000 PPE kits, 90 oxygen humidifiers and 6,00,000 Daily Meals. The donation to the state of Kerala is in line with this national level CSR drive.

At a national level, ZEE has also financially supported over 5000 Daily Wage Earners working directly or indirectly with the Company. Further, 3400 employees have contributed towards PM CARES Fund. The amount generated was matched by ZEE, and the collective proceeds were donated to PM CARES Fund.

As a responsible Media & Entertainment player, ZEE continues to take strong steps needed in further intensifying its fight against Covid-19.