NMDC’s initiatives & contributions for prevention of COVID-19

 
MUMBAI, 19th May 2020 (GNI): Being a responsible Corporate Citizen, it has been a pioneer in addressing its responsibility towards society. Keeping in view the prevalence of Covid-19 and the guidelines issued by the Government of India, NMDC is implementing various preventive measures at the headquarters, plants and offices to protect the employees and their families against the spread of CORONA virus (COVID-19). We are focused on disinfecting and sanitizing the work stations, washrooms and pantry spaces at regular intervals. Prolonged chronic treatment employees, pregnant ladies and those employees vulnerable to contagious diseases have been given work from home permission.  
 
NMDC has implemented the preventive measures in office premises like thermal scanning of temperature of all employees at the entrance, provided masks to sanitation and security personnel & usage of sanitizers, restriction on entry of visitors, massive awareness campaigns using visual communications like display of banners, posters, hoardings, electronic boards etc. at offices and plants premises in headquarters, Bailadila iron ore mines, Steel Plant at Nagarnar (Chhattisgarh), Donimalai iron ore mines and plant (Karnataka) and Diamond Mining Project (Panna in Madhya Pradesh).
NMDC is also promoting social distancing among employees at the headquarters, plants and offices. As instructed by the Government of India, the working hours of all employees are being staggered, so that to avoid mass gatherings at the time of reporting and closing of duty. NMDC has also drafted daily & weekly roaster for employees. All meetings are being avoided and if required, meetings are conducted by web or video conference.
NMDC has given ₹ 1 thousand each to all contractual, daily salaried workers and trainees including their regular employees to meet expenses for preventing COVID 19. This decision will instill confidence in the employees especially the daily salaried workers that the company is with them in this difficult time.
NMDC at all its offices, mines, townships and nearby villages distributed pamphlets on do’s & don’ts and disinfectant soaps to each and every household nearby all NMDC projects, where in more than 50,000 families were covered. Public awareness is created by mobile vehicle announcements in townships and nearby villages.
NMDC supported Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Janta Curfew and Lighting of lamps. In times of such unprecedented health crisis, NMDC stands committed to fight this calamity.
Some of the other activities for spreading awareness & prevention measures in and around various mines and units of NMDC are given below:
Internal communication activities like mass e-mailers, SMS, poster/stickers, TV display, circulars & official whatsapp groups have created to develop awareness of employees.
We at NMDC, has always been at the forefront in times of need for the country. But the biggest need is at this time is to be united and strengthen the hands of the Government of India. Together we will be able to defeat this pandemic. NMDC has donate Rs 155 crore to PM Cares Fund for COVIDー19 fight.
Following Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji’s call, NMDC employees contributed one day’s salary (totalling ₹ 1.25 Crores) to PM-CARES Fund to fight COVID-19.
NMDC contributed 60 lakhs to fight against COVID19 in the district of Ballari, Karnataka. This amount has spent on procuring beds & oxygen line ext. to COVID-19 designated District Hospital. We are committed to helping our society to evolve through this pandemic with more strength & courage.
NMDC has contributed ₹50 lakhs to the Hyderabad Police Commissioner, Hyderabad City to enable Police Authorities to procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other allied material for prevention & containment duties relating to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic emergency.
NMDC is engaging tribal women of naxal-hit Dantewada in production of masks, sanitisers. NMDC has distributed more than ONE lakh masks and hand sanitizers made by Tribal women groups of Dantewada to its personnel, COVID Warriors and other needy to prevent corona virus infection.
Health and hygiene of our workers are of utmost importance to us during Covid19 at NMDC. Along with maintaining cleanliness at work place, employees of our Bailadila Iron ore mines are conserving water through this in-house designed hand washer without touch soap dispenser & water tap.”
Our dedicated employees for mass sanitization have developed several walk through disinfection chambers from scrap material & installed them at various entry points of our mines to fight
COVID-19.
NMDC has taken up sanitation drive in residential areas, public buildings, market places, Hospital, RO plants, etc., at NMDC townships in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Highlighting the concern, NMDC’s project teams are also working towards raising awareness among the local villagers.  Also, the most modern mist fogging decontamination drive has been started in the townships and surrounding villages of the project on a regular basis.
Access to quality & affordable healthcare is always a challenge. Through video conferencing we have opened up new opportunities to close gaps in patient care at our project hospitals in remote areas of South Bastar, Chhattisgarh. And also organising free health check-up camps at all NMDC townships in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
NMDC Apollo Hospital at Bacheli in Chhattisgarh is declared as Level -II Covid designated hospital
Preparedness in Project Hospitals: Following actions have been taken to keep the hospitals ready for handling COVID cases.
Identification of separate COVID Block/ separate beds
·    Monitoring of PPE equipment and N95 masks
·    Identifying quarantine beds/ isolation beds
·    A WhatsApp group of senior doctors, Head of Projects and Head of Personnel has been made with Director (Pers) interacting with them on regular basis for resolving any issues that may crop up.
Milk is one of the essential item in this Lockdown period and we have ensured uninterrupted supply of it in our Project townships & nearby areas through tie-up with local villagers under Bailadila Kamdhenu CSR scheme.
NMDC is distributing food grains to helpless and needy villagers under Anna danam initiative of GoI in Bailadila iron ore mines, Steel Plant at Nagarnar (Chhattisgarh), Donimalai  iron ore mines and plant (Karnataka) and Diamond Mining Project (Panna in Madhya Pradesh).  More than 50,000 Nos. of relief packages consisting of food grains and other necessary items were distributed to needy families by NMDC.
NMDC is using social media platform to create awareness and spreading prevention measures regularly among its internal and external stake holders to combat COVID-19. E-brochures and guidelines on “back to work” are being informed through emails and display creatives to all employees.