Indian companies extend help in evacuating students

CHENNAI/ NEW DELHI: Several Indian companies, including tech firms, steel and tyre makers and pharma players, have responded to the government’s call for aiding in the evacuation of Indian students and workers from Ukraine and have deployed personnel to help arrange food, shelter, transport and provide other assistance.

The move follows efforts from the commerce and industry ministry, which had last week reached out to Indian companies operating around Ukraine for support. While commerce & industry minister Piyush Goyal had got the companies to share the coordinates of company representatives and offices operating in the region, especially in Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania, the corporate sector has responded favourably.

In Ukraine 14 companies, majority of them from the pharma sector, have been identified, some of whom are providing help. Besides, the government has got updates from them on the evacuation of their staff members.

In Romania, so far 18 companies have deputed one of their employees to coordinate with the embassy. This includes an MNC tech firm with a large presence in Gurgaon and Bangalore. These companies are providing transport, food and shelter. One of the Indian IT firms has offered to provide 50 rooms for 100 students, while another entity has offered to arrange for passage of students stranded at the Moldova border via Romania.

In Poland there are 22 companies that have offered support, with a steel giant also coordinating with the regional governor in Ukraine to ensure the safe passage of around 1200 students who are at the border. Sources told TOI that the idea was to get them out in batches of 100-150.

Similarly, 11 companies have come forward in Hungary, while 15 are helping out in Slovakia, sources said.

The department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) that had reached out to companies had sought assistance at the ground level until they boarded the flight.

The government started reaching out to companies late last week directly and through various trade bodies and despite some of the tech companies remaining shut due to Covid, personnel have been deployed, an executive said.