Sourav Ganguly Donates Rs 50 Lakh Worth Rice To Needy People In Wake Of Coronavirus Pandemic

Sourav Ganguly is going all the way to ensure India and West Bengal fight the coronavirus pandemic that has decimated sporting events and has led to the death of close to 22,000 people in the world. After offering the Eden Gardens as a temporary quarantine facility to the Mamata Banerjee government, Sourav Ganguly has now gone one step ahead and pledged to donate Rs 50 lakh of rice to the needy people in order to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement released by Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), it said, "#Sourav to provide Free Rice to the Needy. Ganguly, along with Lal Baba Rice has come forward to provide free rice worth Rs 50 lacs to the needy people who have been put in government schools for safety and security. Hope this initiative of Sourav Ganguly would encourage other citizens of the state to take up similar initiatives to serve the people of our state." Cricket Association of Bengal President Avishek Dalmiya has also lent support to the needy people as he donated Rs 5 lakh to the Government''s Emergency Relief Fund.

Sourav Ganguly will donate Rs 50 lakh worth of rice to the poor people. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Ganguly, on Wednesday, had offered the Eden Gardens' indoor facilities and the player dormitory to the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal to set up temporary coronavirus quarantine facilities as the number of cases in India goes past 500. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a total lockdown of India for 21 days in order to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed close to 19,000 lives in the world and has resulted in the postponment of several marquee sporting events including Euro 2020 football and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Coronavirus In West Bengal

The West Bengal government announced that Kolkata and all other municipal and district towns under a complete lockdown from 5 PM on Monday till midnight of March 31 and it was given under the West Bengal Epidemic Disease COVID-19 regulations, 2020, framed according to relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. However, on Tuesday, the lockdown of India has been extended to April 14.

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Speaking to PTI, Ganguly said the BCCI was ready to help both the state and central governments in order to combat the coronavirus pandemic. "If government asks us, we will certainly hand over the facility. Anything that is need of the hour, we will do it. There is absolutely no problem. I think this is the best option at the current moment. Certain things are beyond anybody’s control. Whatever directives that the government and ministry of health gives us, we have to follow. That’s the case all over the world," Ganguly said.

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