#StartupsVsCovid19: Paytm Teams Up With OYO, Treebo To Give Home To Healthcare Workers

In the last couple of days, Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led Paytm has been on the forefront to help the nation in fighting coronavirus pandemic. Now, the company has partnered with more than 300 hotels in 60 cities to offer temporary accommodation for the medical practitioner on the frontline.

OYO, Treebo and Ginger Hotels have participated in the initiative as well.  Besides this, Paytm is also in talks with other hotel chains to bring more properties on board. This will allow medical practitioners to search and book a room in hotels — available under #WeSaluteYouAll tag on Paytm — located near the hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities.

Paytm VP Abhinav Kumar, said, “The healthcare professionals fighting on the frontlines of this battle against COVID-19 need all the support they can get during these extraordinary times. Ensuring that these healthcare workers are provided with comfortable temporary accommodation is the least what we can do for them. We will keep on adding cities as well as properties who share our belief and help these heroes in every way possible.”

Completing the whole ecosystem with special pick-up and drop services, cab-hailing services Ola and Uber, who have also offered special services for medical practitioners and others tackling the coronavirus. For instance, Ola cofounder Bhavish Aggarwal reached out to the Karnataka government offering 500 cars that can be used for several projects the government has taken up to take on the pandemic. Meanwhile, Uber has started off UberMedic to provide pick and drop services for medical staff.  Meanwhile, OYO has also offered to convert some of its hotels into a quarantine zone for patients advised to stay under quarantine or tested positive of coronavirus.

Going back to Paytm, the company has been trying to provide help in different ways. For instance, the company has decided to invest INR 5 Cr to financially support innovator and companies that are working on solutions for the potential shortage of clinical ventilators and other medical equipment.

Besides this, Sharma has also decided to forgo his salary for the next two months. Moreover, the company has also decided to donate over INR 500 Cr in the PM CARES Fund. The company will also donate INR 10 for every donation made through its platform.

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