NEW DELHI: The government is in talks with the private sector for setting up hospitals across the country using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds that will cater not just to immediate requirements but will also come handy in the future.
Separately, it is also nudging the corporate sector to push home sales using the PM Awas Yojana, which offers interest subsidy on home loans, government sources told TOI.
Coronavirus: Live updatesLast week, the issue was discussed by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal at a meeting with industry captains and is seen to be part of a strategy to boost demand for cement and steel and also clear the large inventory with builders.
Construction and real estate are also seen to be crucial to revive the job market.
The suggestion to set up hospitals came from some of the industrial houses, which proposed to set up a facility in a cluster around their plants to meet requirements of their workers as well as people living in neighbouring districts.
Some other companies are also open to the suggestion after the ministry of corporate affairs tweaked the rules recently.
The government is looking to draft a possible policy paper on the issue, which will be discussed with the companies and can form a template for building hospitals on a large scale over the next few years.
The assessment is that once the plan is in place, companies can implement the strategy over the next two years or so, creating capacity to meet future requirements.
The government believes that the private sector has played a critical role during the second wave in arranging oxygen, medicines, hospital beds and other supplies for patients and aided the Centre and the states in meeting the unprecedented challenge.
While companies have been hit by the latest set of lockdowns across states, industry representatives told Goyal that they were hoping to bounce back quickly as the unlocking process is underway.
Although there were some doubts over the rural demand as infections have spread to smaller towns and villages, several companies are learnt to have said that a good monsoon will help them tide over the problem.