South Indian actor Ajith on Tuesday made donations to national and state relief funds set by the central and state governments to fight against COVID-19.
The actor donated Rs 50 lakh each to Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
He also donated Rs 25 lakh to the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI).
The actor is among the first to make donations to the relief funds set up by the government in the fight against COVID-19.
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Others who have contributed to TN CM’s Relief Fund include the state’s main opposition party, DMK, that has donated Rs one crore, according to reports.
DMK MP from Thoothukudi, Kanimozhi, too has donated Rs one crore from her Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLADS) Funds.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit had donated Rs one crore each to the CM Relief Fund and to the PM CARES Fund.
FEFSI president R K Selvamani on March 23 last had made an open call for donations to help sustain daily wage labourers who will be hard hit because of the lockdown.
Actor Rajinikanth had announced that he will be donating Rs 50 lakh to the relief fund set up by the film body.
Actors Sivakumar, Suriya and Karthi together, Vijay Sethupathi and Sivakarthikeyan have donated Rs 10 lakh each.
In states like Kerala and Karnataka, people have urged contributors to make donations to the CM’s Relief Fund rather than PM CARES since the respective state governments are the immediate implementing agencies.