Cricket / Gautam Gambhir donates ₹1 crore to PM-CARES coronavirus relief fund

Former Indian cricketer and current Lok Sabha MP Gautam Gambhir made the announcement that he has released Rs one crore out of his MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) towards the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Known for his philanthropism, Gambhir further appealed to his fellow countrymen not to step out of the house on numerous occasions using social media.

It is time that all resources of the country be directed towards fighting COVID-19. Have released INR 1 Crore from my MP LAD fund towards relief efforts. Have also donated one month's salary towards the Central Relief Fund.

United we stand!! @narendramodi @JPNadda @BJP4Delhi

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 28, 2020

“It is time that all resources of the country be directed towards fighting COVID-19. Have released INR 1 Crore from my MP LAD fund towards relief efforts. Have also donated one month’s salary towards the Central Relief Fund. United we stand!!” said Gambhir.

Earlier, Gambhir had said in a statement that his foundation was distributing food packets to poor people in his constituency. The statement also said that during the lockdown, 2,000 packets of food were being prepared and distributed by the foundation, and that efforts were being made so that no one should have to worry about food at this time.

Earlier, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju also said that he has donated Rs one crore from his MPLAD fund. Taking to Twitter, Rijiju wrote: “I am depositing the amount now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call to all BJP MPs to give Rs 1 crore from their MPLADS Fund to the National Relief Fund in fight against coronavirus.”

Currently, India have 819 active COVID-19 cases which has been reported across the country and the pandemic has claimed 19 lives. Globally, the pandemic has claimed around 30,000 lives.