“The Corona Virus: COVID-19 & Unseen Heroes of The Nation”

 I would like to bring in your notice “The Unseen Heroes of The Nation” who are supporting our people to fight against “The Corona Virus: COVID-19”.

COVID-19 pandemic is the global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have been hit with like the world war. As on date the Corona Virus has affected 205 countries and territories around the world.

All affected Countries are racing to slow the spread of the virus by testing and treating patients, carrying out contact tracing, limiting travel, quarantining citizens, and cancelling large gatherings etc.

Considering the severity of COVID19, Our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days. In the lockdown period, there is a ban on people from stepping out of their homes, all services and shops have been closed except hospitals, banks, grocery shops and other essential services. The lockdown forced the closure of all companies (only work-from-home allowed), suspension of classes in all schools and colleges etc. In short, only services essential for sustenance of life are kept open.

Now, I would like touch upon my topic “Unseen Heroes of the Nation” who are supporting our people to fight against the COVID-19.

We all, I am sure will appreciate the heroes who are fighting to protect us from COVID19 Pandemic. I would like to name few of them who are playing a great role in the War with the enemy - the coronavirus COVID-19.

•  Doctors & medical staffs: These are the great human beings not only treating the affected people but also preventing the spread to others
• Police: Every one of us is safe at our home because police are on road day & night to fight with coronavirus COVID-19.
•  Government officials: Who are working tirelessly in making all things work in sync at these unprecedented times and for protecting all of us from COVID19.
•  Sanitation workers: Who are responsible for maintaining basic hygiene and providing safe environment for all of us to live.

As mentioned above these are the Heroes whose work is observed by all of us directly.

Now let’s see the Unseen Heroes of Nation:

The lockdown restricts people from stepping out of their homes. But while lockdown was declared, government allowed the movement of only those people who are engaged in essential services like health services and foods supply etc…

ITC Limited is one of India’s foremost private sector companies and through its foods business is engaged in manufacture of essential food items such as Atta, Biscuits, Dairy Products, Juices, Salt, Spices, Noodles, Snacks etc.

Yes, I feel extremely proud and happy to say that the “Unseen Heroes” are all our employees at ITC who are working in this lockdown period to serve the public by taking all possible efforts to ensure un interrupted production & supply of food items at this difficult hour.

In this lockdown period, maximum labours and employees are not able come to factory. Still we are running the factory with optimum resources and manufacturing essential food items.

 All ITC’s employees are Heroes because:

Everybody understands the gravity of the global health crisis due to the coronavirus COVID-19 and their role in this critical juncture towards the nation.

• Ownership and accountability: Though all Indian are following “stay home - stay safe” principle, few of our employees are working in factory taking full accountability and ownership with the moto of serving the nation rather than giving an excuse and staying back in the comfort of their homes.
•  Agility: Our working employees are not following any protocol of their Titles at this moment and everybody is ready to work at any station and accepting any role as we have acute shortage of manpower.
• Collaboration with Speed: Team is very collaborative and working with speed to produce to the best of their ability to serve the society.

   Giving back to community: ITC Ltd has declared a COVID-19 contingency fund of Rs 150 crore for vulnerable sections of society in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak & apart from that has tied up with various NGO’s to ensure continuous supply of essential food items to the nook & corner of the country. On the other hand, all our employees are also committed to serve the nation by fulfilling their foods needs as we believe uninterrupted availability of food is essentials during this unprecedented time.   

                                                                                                                                           Employee Care: While we continue to work round the clock in such difficult times, ITC as a responsible corporate citizen, takes utmost care of our people by following all necessary precautions & by strict enforcement of hygiene and sanitation protocols for all its employees working at our manufacturing units.

To recognize and appreciate these Humans of ITC in a little way and to support their families since Food Supply during Lockdown is little distorted, ITC Foods Ranjangaon Unit distributed ITC Care Kits (Atta & Noodles) to all personal working in difficult time. This small initiative got wide appreciation from all strata.

I Once again take this opportunity to share with pride that I work for ITC and to applaud all my Heroes who are committed to stand by the nation.

 Let’s support the nation together.

Jai Hind

Blog dated 05.04.2020