The commitment to nurturing communities has been a founding principle of the Mahindra Group, which is leading corporate India’s fight against the ongoing pandemic.

The HOPE (Helping Our People during Emergencies) project, conceptualised by Mahindra Logistics, one of India’s largest 3PL solutions providers, is the latest in the Group’s efforts to reach out to the underprivileged.

The lockdown imposed in the wake of the pandemic has left truck and cab drivers high and dry. The driver community is struggling to make ends meet for themselves and their families. “With over 30 per cent of commercial vehicles stranded on roads across the country, truck drivers and their families are in immediate need of cash for food and other basic facilities,” said Rampraveen Swaminathan, MD & CEO, Mahindra Logistics.

Through this initiative, the company will transfer Rs 3,000 to each driver’s bank account so they can buy essential commodities. This will be followed up by other initiatives such as health insurance coverage, helping them access government schemes, loan guaranteeing models, etc.

“Through this initiative of short-term financial relief and hope, we aim to help these drivers and their families until normalcy is restored,” said Mr. Swaminathan. In addition, the company will strengthen healthcare professionals’ abilities to respond and provide support to affected families, using digital channels.

MLL has partnered Samhita Social Ventures, a social enterprise, and SuperMoney, a financial lending tech platform, for this noble endeavour. Priya Naik, Founder and CEO, Samhita Social Ventures, said that partnering MLL to support India’s blue collar and gig economy workers through the India Workers’ Alliance, is an imperative in the current crisis situation.