Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar joined the list of Indian athletes including wrestler Bajrang Punia, sprinter Hima Das, shuttler PV Sindhu, and BCCI President Sourav Gangully to have come forward to provide financial aid to fight the coronavirus pandemic that has led to a 21-day national lockdown.
On Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced a donation of Rs 51 crores.
“BCCI along with the affiliated state associations on Saturday announced to donate INR 51 crores to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) to contribute towards strengthening the nation’s disaster management capacities and encourage research to combat COVID-19 and protect Indian citizens,” the board’s release stated.
Earlier, Tendulkar reportedly donated Rs 50 lakh to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
“Sachin Tendulkar decided to contribute Rs 25 lakh each to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in his bid to join the fight against Covid-19. It was his decision that he wanted to contribute to both funds,” a source privy to the development, told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Tendulkar’s donation is so far one of the biggest contribution among India’s leading sportspersons, some of whom have pledged their salaries while a few others have donated medical equipment to fight the dreaded outbreak, which has caused more than 24,000 deaths globally.
Among other prominent cricketers, the Pathan brothers – Irfan and Yusuf – have donated 4000 face masks to Baroda police and health department while Mahendra Singh Dhoni is reported to have made a contribution of Rs 1 lakh to a Pune-based NGO raising funds.
On Saturday, Suresh Raina pledged to donate a sum of Rs 52 lakh. The left-handed middle-order batsman has donated Rs 31 lakh to the Prime Minister-CARES Fund and a further Rs 21 lakh to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh’s Disaster Relief Fund to help the battle against the spread of Covid-19.
Hima Das has donated her one month’s salary to the Assam government to help the state combat pandemic. Das, an Asian Games gold-medallist besides being an under-20 world champion in 400m, is employed with PSU major Indian Oil as an HR officer in Guwahati.
Indian shooter Manu Bhaker donated Rs 1 lakh to the Haryana goverment to help the state combat the rapidly-spreading COVID-19 pandemic.
The 18-year-old, who is a Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympics champion, belongs to Jhajjar district in the state.
The Assam Cricket Association offered to convert its Barsapara Stadium premises into a quarantine centre as the state government braced up for the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mumbai Cricket Association on Thursday decided to donate Rs 50 lakh to the Maharashtra government in its fight against the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
MCA Secretary Sanjay Naik told PTI that the city’s cricket body conducted it’s Apex Council meeting on Thursday in which it authorised the President and Secretary to decide the donation amount. A MCA Apex Council member said that the amount will be donated to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The member also said that the MCA is also ready to give its properties including the Wankhede Stadium in South Mumbai for quarantine in case the government requires it.
Saurashtra Cricket Association has announced a donation of Rs 42 lakh.
As of 28 March, India’s Union health ministry has so far confirmed 873 positive coronavirus cases in the country, including 19 deaths and 78 recoveries.
India’s Test vice captain Ajinkya Rahane donated Rs 10 lakh for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund while sports minister Kiren Rijiju annonced that he would donat his one month’s salary to the PM Cares Fund apart from Rs one crore from his MPLAD funds.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association donated Rs 1 crore (Rs 50 lakh each for the central and the state governments) later on Monday. Six-time boxing world champion Mary Kom too chipped in, offering to pay a month’s salary to the Prime Minister’s relief fund.
Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh pledged to donate Rs 11 lakh to the PM Cares Fund for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic while cricketer Poonam Yadav contributed Rs 2 lakh.
Employees of Sports Authority of India also donated their three days’ salary to the PM Cares Fund, amounting to Rs 76 lakh. Star spinner Yadav pledged to donate Rs 2 lakh for the cause. “I have given my support to the PM-Cares fund and the UP CM relief fund. This is the only thing we can do in this time of crisis. I hope everyone contributes and we beat the pandemic soon. Stay safe everyone,” Yadav tweeted.
On behalf of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association, Brij Bhushan has announced they will contribute Rs 5 lakh towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The president of the wrestling body in Varanasi, Sanjay Kumar has announced a monetary aid of Rs 50,000 to the state CM’s relief fund.
Brij Bhushan has praised star wrestler Bajrang Punia for his contribution and urged everyone to come forward and donate in this hour of crisis. Multiple world champion ace cueist Pankaj Advani on Monday donated Rs 5 lakh.
“A small gesture for a mammoth cause. Contributed Rs 5 Lakhs to the PM CARES Fund. Let’s spread awareness, love, compassion and the spirit of unity for the greater good of humanity. Jai Hind,” Advani tweeted.
Indian badminton team’s chief coach Pullela Gopichand and former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay were some of the prominent names who made financial contributions on Monday, April 6. The former All England champion donated Rs 26 lakh with 15 lakh to PM Cares fund while Rs 5 lakh each to both Andhra and Telangana state governments.
I-League football club Minerva Punjab donated Rs 5 lakh with Rs 2 lakh to the PM Cares and Rs 1 lakh each to the Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh state government. Later in the day, badminton ace P Kashyap also made a donation: “I contributed Rs 3 lakhs to the Telangana CM Relief Fund. I salute the health care workers and emergency service providers. I hope my contribution helps them,” Kashyap wrote on Twitter.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!