Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar today donated 50 lakh rupees to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The iconic batsman also took to Twitter to urge fellow countrymen not to ostracize any fellow citizen who might have contracted the dreaded virus.

Earlier on Wednesday, the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly pledged to donate rice worth 50 lakh rupees for the underprivileged. 

Among other prominent cricketers, the Pathan brothers  Irfan and Yusuf  donated 4000 face masks to Baroda police and health department while Mahendra Singh Dhoni made a contribution of one lakh rupees.

Among athletes from other disciplines, wrestler Bajrang Punia and sprinter Hima Das are some of the prominent names to have donated their salaries in the battle against the virus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, 130 crore Indians should act as national volunteers in fighting the pandemic. Interacting with Radio Jockeys, RJs through video conference yesterday, he said that the public should cooperate with police, adding that while police should avoid usage of strong arm tactics, it is also necessary to enforce discipline. The Prime Minister observed that public broadcaster All India Radio has a particularly important role to play in stopping the flow of rumours. Mr Modi requested the RJs to work towards checking the spread of rumours. He said, RJs have a great responsibility not just to disseminate and disabuse superstitions but also motivate people.

Prime Minister exhorted the RJs to disseminate positive stories and case studies, particularly of those patients that have fully recovered from coronavirus infection, and also inter-play such stories in different parts of the country, thus bringing the entire country together.  

Union Government has announced a package of 1.7 lakh crore rupees for the poor who need immediate help in the wake of COVID-19 like migrant workers and urban and rural poor. Briefing media in New Delhi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said they have come up with Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan scheme to help the migrant and poor people. She also announced insurance cover of 50 lakh rupees per person for three months for COVID-19 warriors who are exposing themselves to the virus. They include doctors, paramedics, healthcare workers, sanitation workers, ASHA workers dealing with coronavirus outbreak.

The Finance Minister elaborated that 5 kilo rice or wheat will be given for the next three months for free in addition to the 5 kilos already being given to 80 crore people. Additionally, one kilo of  preferred pulses will also be given per family for free under Pradhan Mantri Anna Yojana.

Ms Sitharaman said, around 8.70 crore farmers will get 2,000 rupees in first week of April in their account under existing Prime Minister's Kisan Yojana. Besides, 20.5 crore women Jan Dhan Account holders will get  500 rupees per month for the next three months, while poor senior citizens, widows and disabled will get an ex- graita of  1,000 rupees.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi is going to start a tele-consultation facility for its follow-up patients in a day or two.

Talking about combat of coronavirus, AIIMS Director, Dr Randeep Guleria said, several patients whose appointments are now cancelled due to lockdown and chronic patients can consult doctors through this facility.

He said, every department will have some doctors who will resolve the health related issues through telephone.

Dr. Guleria also said, in case there is a big jump in COVID -19 cases in the coming days, a similar facility will be started by AIIMS.

He informed that through, this senior doctors will advice doctors at districts and state levels about managing critically ill patients of coronavirus.

Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGN) has launched Project Isaac to engage its students in creative projects to enhance their critical skills while they are confined to their homes because of Corona virus.

The official release said, the project is inspired by Sir Isaac Newton, who was similarly sent home by Trinity College, Cambridge, because of the Great Plague of London in 1665. During this year, Newton, then a 22-year-old college student developed some of his most profound discoveries, including early calculus, as well as his theories of optics and gravity.

As part of the project, four different competitions are being organized by IIT, Gandhinagar to cultivate new skills among students regarding writing, painting, coding, music, creative expression, and so on. Students can take part in competitions online. Nearly 40 per cent of IITGN students are already participating in various activities, which are entirely voluntary. 

Coronavirus India Live Updates: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Thursday said the government is helping those who have been affected directly because of the nationwide lockdown. Addressing a press conference, Sitharaman presented the economic relief package worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore and announced medical insurance cover for health workers and free grains for poor for the next three months.

Announcing Garib Kalyan Yojana, Sitharaman said 80 crore poor or two-third of population would get 5 kg rice or wheat free for the next three months. This will be over and above the 5 kg they already get. Additionally, they will also get 1 kg of preferred pulse.

Later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join a virtual summit of G-20 leaders, chaired by Saudi King Salman, to discuss the coronavirus pandemic. With Jammu and Kashmir reporting its first Covid-19 death Thursday, the death toll in India spiked to 13 and the number of positive cases soared to 649. On the other hand, the global death toll has reached 21,287.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend an emergency virtual summit of G20 leaders to advance the coordinated response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

that has claimed many lives and upended life and businesses across the globe. The meeting will be chaired by Saudi Arabia''s King Salman.

“The G20 has an important global role to play in addressing the COVID 19 pandemic. I look forward to productive discussions tomorrow at the G20 virtual summit, being coordinated by the Saudi G20 Presidency,” PM said in a tweet.

The summit is likely to chalk out a strategy to counter the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephonic conversation on Wednesday and discussed ther measures put in place in both nations to fight coronavirus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  has reiterated  that  social distancing is the only way to counter the spread of  COVID-19  saying  the virus does not discriminate and it can infect anyone. 

Interacting  with  the people  of Varanasi  through video conferencing today,  Mr. Modi said, some people despite being empowered with knowledge are not pay heed to warning which  is unfortunate.   He  said the Mahabharat war was won in 18 days and  this war the whole country is fighting against  coronavirus will take 21 days and the  aim is to win it.  

Mr. Modi  asked people to speak to their doctors  before taking any medicine clarifying that  there is  no medicine or vaccine for coronavirus as of now.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has come forward in support of those affected by the 21-day lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, pledging to donate rice worth 50 lakh rupees for the underprivileged.

The Cricket Association of Bengal announced in a statement that Ganguly along with Lal Baba Rice will provide for the needy people who have been put in government schools for safety and security.