Coronavirus: HUL commits ₹100 crore to fight pandemic

As the number of Coronavirus patients rises, India’s largest FMCG company Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) committed ₹100 crores to fight the pandemic. The company will also work towards creating large-scale awareness about protective measures, social distancing, and hygiene.

The Mumbai-headquartered company will cut the prices of its Lifebuoy sanitisers, Lifebuoy liquid handwash and Domex floor cleaners by 15%. The company will also donate 20 million pieces of Lifebuoy soaps in the next few months to the underserved sections of society that are most vulnerable to the outbreak. It will also donate ₹10 crore to upgrade the healthcare facilities in testing centres and hospitals.

HUL will start the production of these reduced-priced products immediately and these will be available in the market in the next few weeks, it said in a statement. It has also ramped up the production of these products and said it will scale it up further in the coming weeks.

“In crisis like this companies have a big role to play. We are working closely with the governments and our partners to ensure that we overcome this global health crisis together,” said Sanjiv Mehta, chairman and managing director, HUL.

As of Saturday, India reported a total of 258 Covid-19 cases across India, with Maharashtra accounting for the highest number of patients at 49, followed by Delhi at 25, according to the ministry of health and family welfare. The number of Indian patients stands at 219, while 39 foreigners in India have tested positive. Four people have died so far. The total number of discharged patients across the country was 22.

HUL will also partner with medical institutions that are providing testing and care facilities to affected people and provide them free supplies of sanitation and hygiene products, it said.