Students, teachers, non-teaching staff, alumni and fathers of St Xavier’s College and St Xavier’s School will jointly contribute Rs 40 lakh to the chief minister’s relief fund to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The teachers and non-teaching staff will donate a day's salary each and the fathers will contribute from their community budget, Father Dominic Savio, the principal of St Xavier’s College (Autonomous), said. Many former students of the school and college and some current students have also come forward to donate to the relief fund.

“The country is going through a difficult situation. We appreciate the initiatives being taken by the state and Central governments. The St Xavier’s community has always come forward and extended its support to the needy at difficult times. This time, too, all our students, teachers and the alumni have responded and decided to contribute generously,” Father Savio said.

The initiative was first taken by the teachers and students were initially not asked to contribute. But many came forward and offered to donate.

The amount will be transferred to the relief fund on Monday, he said.

Father Savio said the fathers of the college and school were regularly holding prayers to overcome the crisis. “We are trying our best to extend as much support as we can to help the thousands of poor and daily wage workers who have been affected by the lockdown.”

St Xavier’s University appeal to contribute: Father Felix Raj, the vice-chancellor of St Xavier’s University, said on Sunday that he has appealed to faculty members, the alumni association, parents, friends and well-wishers of the university to contribute generously to the relief fund.

“It is our moral and Xaverian duty to join hands and support the schemes and projects undertaken by the chief minister and the government. I appeal to all to generously come forward with whatever monetary contributions you can make,” he said in the appeal.