Aid continue to pour in from sports circles towards Assam government’s fight against Covid-19.

The Assam Cricket Association on Monday announced contribution of Rs 50 lakh to government exchequer for utilisation against the worst ever crisis the state has faced.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, ACA president Romen Dutta and secretary Devajit Saikia stated: “ACA in order to support the government of Assam in its battle to tackle the spread of coronavirus, and, also to provide treatment and quarantine measures to the Covid-19 affected persons and undertaking quarantine measures in the state, will donate a sum of Rs 25 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and another Rs 25 lakh to the Assam Arogya Nidhi for Assam Covid Care, a total sum of Rs 50 lakh to the Assam government at this hour of crisis.”

The ACA had earlier offered its cricket stadium here to create a quarantine centre if needed.

The ACA also announced that there will be no deduction of salaries of its 71 employees, including contractual ones, for the month of March 2020 despite the ACA office being kept closed during the lockdown.It has taken the initiatives of ensuring supply of adequate ration and essentials to its technical and ground staff and security personnel stationed in the stadium here.

Not only has the ACA offered its infrastructure for quarantine facility, its affiliated district units in Hojai and Hailakandi have also offered sports complexes for the purpose.

Hojai District Sports Association president and MLA Shiladitya Deb had on Sunday apprised chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal that the district association has already converted Hojai stadium into a quarantine centre and that it was taking the initiative of spreading awareness among people about the crisis and preventive measures.

Hailakandi District Sports Association general secretary Saibal Sengupta offered a the association’s pavilion at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Stadium in Barak Valley district for conversion into a 50-bed Covid-19 hospital or quarantine centre if needed. Deb and Sengupta were conversing with the chief minister during a teleconference at the initiative of Assam Olympic Association general secretary Lakhya Konwar.

The AOA had also donated Rs 1 lakh to the government coffers a few days ago.

Further, World Youth Women’s Boxing champion Ankushita Boro on Monday contributed Rs 20,001 towards Assam Arogya Nidhi for the same purpose.