Strengthening support towards relief efforts in the state, Ola Group, which operates Ola, India’s largest mobility platform, has committed ₹50 Lakhs to the Haryana Chief Minister’s Fund. The Ola Group comprises various business arms including Ola Mobility, its ride-hailing arm, Ola Financial Services, Ola Electric, as well as Ola Foods. The contribution aims to support the state’s efforts across enabling aid at the ground level, strengthening emergency response and also facilitating longer-term COVID-19 relief and recovery initiatives.
Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-founder and CEO of Ola Group said, “As India continues to address the COVID-19 outbreak, the State Governments are working tirelessly to ensure containment and relief work for affected citizens and communities. Through our humble contribution to the Haryana State Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, we stand in support of these efforts in every way possible. The Ola Group hails the efforts of the state and the commitment of the thousands of healthcare workers and essential services staff on the frontlines who are selflessly serving citizens in these challenging times. We are also grateful to the Government for collaborating with us to enable emergency services for citizens in the state, to and from hospitals.”
Ola has undertaken several steps to reduce the strains faced by communities. Through its social welfare arm, Ola Foundation, Ola launched the “Drive the Driver Fund” a crowdfunding initiative to help affected cab, auto-rickshaw, and kaali-peeli taxi drivers across India. Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-founder and CEO, Ola pledged his 1 year’s salary towards the cause while Ola employees contributed ₹20 Crores. Providing additional financial relief, Ola is offering its driver-partners interest-free microcredit. Strengthening essential mobility for healthcare workers, medical and paramedical staff in Mumbai, Ola partnered with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to help ferry them to and from hospitals. Last week, the Ola Group contributed ₹5 crores to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund to help in the fight against COVID-19.
Ola also recently launched ‘Ola Emergency’ on its app to enable essential medical trips on its platform in cities such as Bengaluru, Gurugram, Visakhapatnam, Nashik, and Bhubaneswar and will be introducing the service in more cities in the weeks ahead. The new category will bring a much-needed mobility solution for many citizens who do not have a mode of transport to access a hospital in case of a medical emergency.
