Sania Mirza in action during a match. File

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has stepped forward to raise money to provide food and other basic necessities for the daily wage workers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has so far claimed more than 16,000 lives across the world.

A lockdown has been imposed in almost the entire country with an aim to stop the spread of novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 500 people and claimed 10 lives so far.

Due to the lockdown and curfews, the informal sector has been badly affected and those who depend on daily wages are struggling to provide their families.

Sania has shared a video on her social networks supporting the Safa organisation and pledged to donate and asked people to make a contribution for the workers during this tough time.

“In this difficult time that the world is going through, we are privileged to be able to sit at home, in comfort and wait for everything to be ok again... there are thousands of people who aren’t that lucky enough and it’s our responsibility to take care of them in whatever capacity we can,” said Sania.

“Together with Safa and a few other people we hope to help as many families as possible in this difficult time and make a little bit of a difference,” she added.

Punia donates salary

Earlier, star wrestler Bajrang Punia also donated his six month’s salary to Haryana’s COVID-19 relief fund.

“I have donated my six months’ salary towards relief fund for COVID-19 patients set up by Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar,” Punia, who works with the Railways as an officer on special duty (OSD) said in a tweet. He also called upon people to make contributions towards the “Haryana corona relief fund.”

The 2019 World Championship bronze medallist also earned praise from Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, who said it was a laudable effort.

On Monday, the Haryana government launched a voluntary programme to provide public services relating to combating coronavirus.

To defeat COVID-19, the programme named ‘Covid -- Sangharsh Senani’ was launched on Monday so that people could voluntarily give their services in hospitals -- both paramedics and doctors -- and in district administration, said an official on Tuesday.

Former India opener and BJP lawmaker Gautam Gambhir has also offered to release Rs 50 lakh from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund for the equipment to treat coronavirus patients in Delhi government hospitals.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has worked alongside Age UK and Love Your DoorStep in Enfield to prepare food parcels and other items for delivery to the more vulnerable members of the community as people here grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am here to help Age UK Enfield, Love Your DoorStep Enfield and of course you can donate food, money or be a volunteer,” Mourinho said in a video posted by Love Your DoorStep’s Twitter account as quoted by news.sky.com.

The charity has been providing for essential goods to elderly members of the society who have been advised to stay in quarantine for the next 12 weeks, the report further said.

Meanwhile, Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata also offered to practice with a self-isolating boy from Dublin, whose video of solo goalkeeping went viral with United keeper David de Gea among those acknowledging it.
Agencies