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- Odisha to enforce lockdown in all its 30 districts from midnight.
- SAARC nations stand in solidarity as PM expresses gratitude for contribution to COVID-19 emergency fund.
- Government of India says Corporates can spend social funds on measures to battle coronavirus.
Bhubaneswar: With a lockdown in force and government gearing up its machinery to combat the novel coronavirus, CM Naveen Patnaik Monday donated his three months’ salary to the Odisha Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) to help those affected by the pandemic.
The Chief Minister’s Office said, “CM Naveen Patnaik has donated his three months’ salary to CMRF COVID-19 Fund to help those affected by the pandemic, reiterating that extraordinary circumstance demands extraordinary response.”
Patnaik has also appealed all capable citizens to donate generously to provide humanitarian help to the affected.
Post this declaration, General Secretary (HQ) of the ruling-BJD Sanjay Das Burma requested party MPs and MLAs to donate their three month's salary to the Odisha CMRF by March 29 to aid in preventive measures to battle COVID-19.
Donating his three months’ salary, State Food & Supplies Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain urged people to come in large numbers and donate for the cause.
“Following in the footsteps of CM Naveen, I have decided to donate my three months’ salary to CMRF. We are experiencing an unprecedented situation and we need all hands on deck to fight and prevent COVID-19. Please come forward in large numbers and donate to CMRF,” Swain said.
Meanwhile, Odisha government's COVID-19 Spokesman Subroto Bagchi declared that Odisha will lockdown all its 30 districts from midnight today.
SAARC Stands In Solidarity
Addressing the SAARC leaders and representatives last week, PM Modi had proposed an emergency fund with an initial offer of $10 million from India, an initiative that he said would strengthen the collective fight against coronavirus.
Modi has thanked the SAARC nations for contributing to the COVID-19 emergency fund to tackle the spread of the deadly virus in these countries.
“Deeply appreciate contribution of $200,000 by Government of Maldives to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. It strengthens our resolve in this collective fight against the pandemic,” he wrote on Twitter.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering for his decision to contribute $100,000 to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund.
“Deeply appreciate Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli’s announcement of contribution of NPR 10 crores to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. It reflects Oli Ji’s commitment and support to the collective fight of SAARC countries against the pandemic,” he said.
PM Modi also expressed gratitude to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan for their contributions to the COVID-19 emergency fund.
Grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh for announcing $ 1.5 million as contribution to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Through our solidarity and working together, we will overcome challenges posed by COVID-19.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020
Sincerely thank President of Sri Lanka @GotabayaR for contributing $ 5 million to the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Our cooperation will go a long way in fighting this disease effectively.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020
Thank you Afghanistan, for contributing $ 1 Million to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund in solidarity with our South Asian neighborhood. Tashakkur President @ashrafghani.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020
Corporates Can Spend CSR Funds To Fight COVID-19
In a move which has been hailed by many, the Government of India said that Corporates can spend social funds on measures to fight coronavirus pandemic and clarified spending of CSR funds for COVID-19 is eligible CSR activity.
