Tata Sons on Friday announced the formation and registration of a public charitable trust — The Al-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust — to support those affected by the tragic Air India flight AI-171 accident in Ahmedabad. The trust will operate out of Mumbai and is committed to providing both immediate and long-term assistance to the victims, their families, and others impacted by the incident.
Tata Sons and Tata Trusts have jointly pledged Rs 500 crore towards this initiative, with each contributing Rs 250 crore. The support will include an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore to the families of those who lost their lives, comprehensive medical treatment for the injured, and aid for rebuilding damaged infrastructure, including the B.J. Medical College Hostel.
Support for First Responders and Relief Workers
The Trust’s scope goes beyond just victim relief. It will also extend mental health and financial assistance to first responders, medical professionals, disaster relief workers, and government personnel who played a key role in managing the aftermath of the crash.
Trust to be Run by 5-Member Board
The Trust will be managed by a five-member Board of Trustees. The first two appointments to the board include Mr. S. Padmanabhan, a former Tata veteran, and Mr. Sidharth Sharma, General Counsel at Tata Sons. The remaining members will be appointed shortly. Work is expected to begin after final registration with tax authorities and completion of other legal formalities.