Coronavirus pandemic: Sachin Tendulkar donates Rs 50 lakh in fight against COVID-19

Tags: India, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Published on: Mar 29, 2020

Indian cricketing superstar Sachin Tendulkar on Friday donated Rs 50 lakh for the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in the country. The deadly virus has claimed 20 lives in India and almost 25,000 globally. Following the rapid spread of COVID-19, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown across the nation from March 25.

As per a PTI report, Tendulkar’s donation is the biggest among India’s sporting personalities. “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 was quoted as saying by PTI.

Former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni donated Rs 1 lakh through a Pune-based NGO while BCCI President Sourav Ganguly pledged to donate rice worth Rs 50 lakh for the underprivileged. The Pathan brothers -- Irfan and Yusuf -- donated 4000 face masks. Apart from cricketers, noted wrestler Bajrang Punia and sprinter Hima Das will donate their salaries as a part of their effort to fight the deadly disease.

Earlier on Friday, Tendulkar also posted a video urging people to follow the guidelines laid out by the government so that the battle against COVID-19 can be eventually won. “We can win this battle against coronavirus by staying together and taking necessary steps.”

He further requested everyone to take care of those already inflicted with the virus and not look down upon them. “As a society, it is our responsibility to make sure that people who have been tested positive for coronavirus get our love and affection. We should take care of them and make sure that they don’t feel embarrassed,” the Indian legend with numerous records to his name added.

“Make sure you take all precautions but also make sure that people infected with coronavirus don’t feel unwanted. We have to maintain social distancing but we don’t have to keep them away from the society,” he further stated.

Announcing a total lockdown in the country just a couple of days after the Janta curfew, Modi ordered, “There will be a total ban of coming out of your homes. Every state, every district, every lane, every village will be under lockdown.”

“If you can’t handle these 21 days, this country and your family will go back 21 years,” the PM warned during his address to the nation.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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