Posted by Tech giant Google announced $18 million (INR 135 crore) in new funding to support India’s fight against COVID-19. This $18 million new funding includes two grants from Google’s philanthropic arm Google.org worth $2.6 million (INR 20 crore).
“Today we’re announcing 135 crore INR ($18 million USD) in new funding for India. This includes two grants from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, totalling 20 crore INR ($2.6 million USD). The first is to GiveIndia to provide cash assistance to families hit hardest by the crisis to help with their everyday expenses,” the company said in an official blog on Monday.
The company said the first grant will go to an India based NGO GiveIndia to provide cash assistance to families hit hardest by the crisis to help with their everyday expenses. Google’s second grant will go to UNICEF to help urgent help get urgent medical supplies, including oxygen and testing equipment, to where it’s needed most in India.
The second also includes donations from Google’s employees under the employee giving campaign, in which so over 900 Googlers have contributed $500,000 (INR 3.7 crore). This fund will be offered to organisations supporting high-risk and marginalised communities.
This funding also includes increased Ad Grant support for public health information campaigns. Google said that since last year, it has helped MyGov and the World Health Organisation (WHO) reach audiences with messages focused on how to stay safe and facts about vaccines.
“We’re increasing our support today with an additional $15 million (INR 12 crore) in Ad Grants to local health authorities and nonprofits for more language coverage options,” the company added.
“Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. Google & Googlers are providing Rs 135 Crore in funding to @GiveIndia @UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help critical information,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted.
“I am hopeful that the situation will turn around for our country soon, but as we have learned over the course of this pandemic, hope is not enough. At Google we’ll continue to work with local governments, partners and communities to give people the tools to stay healthy and safe. We’ll get through this tough time together,” Sanjay Gupta, Google Country Head & VP – India said in a blog post.