#FightBackCorona: Biz leaders have been at the forefront of crisis: Akshay Munjal

These are extraordinary times and we all are in uncharted territory. There is a lot of fear and negativity in all spheres due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. While the Corona Warriors are doing a tremendous job fighting from the frontlines, we at Adgully are embarking on an endeavour to highlight the positive developments during these challenging times.

Adgully is featuring a series of brief interactions with industry leaders in India and find out how they are keeping their spirits up as well as keeping their employees motivated, also how they are joining in the fight against the adverse impact of the global pandemic.

Akshay Munjal, President, BML Munjal University, talks about how the educational institute has been fighting the war against COVID-19 by reaching out to the lesser privileged in these times of crisis.

What steps are you and your organisation taking to help out the society at large or those engaged in the war against COVID-19?
BMU has offered the utilisation of its hostels to the Government to be used as an isolation facility.

The faculty and staff of the university have contributed to distribute food to the needy around the university, directly as well as through the district administration. Till date, 4,500+ meals have been distributed.

The students and alumni of BMU, in association with Raman Kant Munjal Foundation, have pledged their support to the local/ district authorities of Gurugram to fight against COVID-19, through Careti.org. Careti.org helps in managing the process of food distribution online to ensure mobilisation of food on a large scale to those in need during the time of lockdown. The online initiative was launched on March 27, 2020, and till date, the platform has helped more than 125,000 people in Gurugram and aims to reach out to 1,000,000 people by the end of April 2020.

How are you keeping your employees motivated and are encouraging them to give their best, even as they are working from home?
We organise regular sessions for the team with the senior management and the faculty on a wide array of topics. We ensure that an all-faculty meeting is organised weekly to keep everyone informed and motivated, while staff meetings are happening every other day. We have ensured that learning is not completely disrupted and have migrated all teaching online.

What is most needed in challenging times such as these:
(a)  From the general public:
Given the extension of the lockdown, it is advisable for all citizens to practice social distancing and remain inside their homes to help flatten the curve and assist the Government in getting out of this situation timely. In the end, these steps are for everyone’s own safety.

(b) From the authorities:
The authorities have done a brilliant job in managing the spread of the virus till now. However, the battle is not over yet. It is important for the authorities to administer more and more tests, ensure that hotspots remain completely sealed, and that there is a constant supply of food and water for all.

(c)  From business leaders:
Business leaders have historically been at the forefront of crisis, helping curb the general public’s emotions. At this point also, it is essential for business leaders to do that, especially for their own employees. Salaries should be credited timely and donations should be made to PM Cares Fund in order to fulfill CSR.