Rising pollution: Corporate India is acting to help their employees breathe a little bit better as New Delhi and Mumbai struggle with air pollution. The national capital’s air quality has been compared to smoking 25 to 40 cigarettes a day.
Rising pollution prompts India Inc. to take action to improve air quality for workers. Many government and private companies are also offering incentives such as low-cost loans to employees who invest in green technologies like electric vehicles (EVs) and solar cookers. Several companies are banking on flexible work schedules from the pandemic era until the air clears.
NTPC, for example, reimburses staff members for solar cookers, EV chargers, air purifiers, and home solar thermal water heaters.
In addition, the largest thermal power producer in the nation is providing conveyance advances at discounted interest rates to its workforce of over 17,000 workers who wish to purchase electric vehicles. Wider industry support exists for the EV push.
The EV ride-sharing company BluSmart, with its headquarters in Gurugram, is providing discounted rates for its staff to use.
In addition, the company is witnessing a rise in the number of businesses interested in switching to more environmentally friendly mobility options and implementing Blu for Business, its business-to-business offering that serves corporate clients, given that the AQI levels in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) are practically through the roof.
BluSmart’s co-founder and chief operating officer, Anirudh Arun, states that the business is eager to work with civil societies and legislators for the greater good of society.
As electric vehicles (EVs) have “zero tailpipe emissions,” they are a solution to India’s rising air quality index (AQI) problem, according to Shailesh Chandra, managing director of Tata Motors (TaMo) Passenger Vehicles and Tata Motors Electric Mobility. The NCR, Mumbai, and a number of other cities declining air quality, he claims, “underlines the urgent need to accelerate EV adoption.”
Businesses have also realized how the effects of growing air pollution on workers are real.
“Abnormal weather patterns and severe climate shifts, such as those we are seeing in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, will undoubtedly negatively affect worker productivity,” states MVP Kumar, geo head of operations, work dynamics, West Asia, JLL. The company is taking the required steps to keep “our people safe, healthy, and productive,” according to Kumar, even though it is difficult to quantify the cost of air pollution.
The real estate services company has installed air filters and sensors to monitor and enhance the quality of the air, as well as UV lamps to irradiate microorganisms in the air ducts in its offices.
In order to maintain indoor air quality, JLL, PepsiCo India, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), and Hero MotoCorp, the leading manufacturer of consumer goods, are also placing their bets on air purifiers in their offices and a hybrid culture that allows workers to work from home throughout this period.
It is only necessary for TaMo employees to make two office visits per week.
Rising pollution, Major food delivery service Swiggy continues by saying that it will provide masks to all of its Delhi-NCR delivery drivers. According to a representative, the company is “actively encouraging our delivery partners to prioritize their safety and urging them to wear masks and stay well-hydrated during their deliveries.”
AIR CLEARING
Employee purchases of solar water heaters, EV chargers, and air purifiers are reimbursed by NTPC.
JLL has installed sensors and air filters in their offices, and they have a flexible work schedule.
Hero MotoCorp, HUL, and PepsiCo India all have hybrid work cultures and air purifiers in their offices.
BluSmart is providing subsidized EV services to its employees.
TaMo offers flexible scheduling.
