Indian ride sharing company Ola on Friday launched the ‘Drive the Driver Fund’ to support auto-rickshaw, cab, kaali-peeli and taxi drivers who have been severely affected as their services have been stalled amidst the nation-wide 21-day coronavirus lockdown.
Ola Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bhavish Aggarwal will contribute his one year’s salary towards the fund whereas the Ola group and its employees will provide Rs 20 crore.
The fund, which has been launched under the aegis of the company’s social welfare arm, Ola Foundation, also aims to raise proceeds via a crowdfunding platform for citizens and other institutions.
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The proceeds of the fund will help towards the welfare and uplift of drivers and their families who have been affected by the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This initiative will focus on key areas such as emergency support and essential supplies, which are of utmost importance to drivers during these challenging times.
The crisis at this time has left thousands of drivers who form the backbone of shared mobility without an income. The Ola group has come together to contribute the initial capital for the fund, which can be used to provide immediate aid,” said Anand Subramanian, Spokesperson and Head of Communications, Ola.
To contribute towards ‘Drive the Driver Fund’, one should go to the website of Ola Foundation and click on ‘Contribute’ option present on the top of the page following which one can contribute any amount of their choice accordingly.
