COVID-19: Uber to provide Rs 25cr in grants to driver partners in India

Ride-hailing major Uber on Thursday said it will provide grants totalling Rs 25 crore to its driver-partners in India to support them amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The US-based company is also looking at raising an additional Rs 25 crore through employee and third-party contributions.

Uber India and South Asia President Pradeep Parameswaran said thousands of driver-partners have started receiving the grants under 'Uber Care Driver Fund' (created in partnership with giving India and Samhita) by direct transfer into their accounts to look after their urgent and essential family needs.

He, however, did not comment on the number of driver-partners that will benefit from this grant and the amount being disbursed to each person.

"Supporting driver communities has never been more important. We hope this first financial relief package for driver-partners helps them and their families cover their immediate and urgent daily needs. We expect the Rs 25 crore grant to be deployed in the next one week," he said.

With the implementation of the lockdown across the country, the government has allowed only people in essential services like healthcare, banking and media to commute. Restricted mobility has left driver-partners of cab services like Ola and Uber with no source of income.

UberMedic, UberEssential and Uber's delivery service driver-partners are also eligible for grants. These services have been started recently for transporting frontline workers, providing essential rides to the elderly and moving everyday supplies across