Mumbai: In a recent development, the Dalai Lama wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his support for PM Modi’s efforts to control the disease and donate it to the PM Cars Fund.
Lama said in the letter, “I applaud the enormous challenges this crisis poses to the world community and require strict measures to meet them.”
The PM CARES Fund has been set up by the Center to help those affected by the nationwide lockdown.
The Dalai Lama also praised Modi for his collective participation and leadership role in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Prime Minister Modi chaired a virtual meeting of SAARC leaders on 15 March and announced the creation of a SAARC Emergency Fund to fight coronaviruses in the region.
The Dalai Lama said, “I would like to thank you for the initiative that you have taken in partnership with other SAARC countries to set up an emergency fund and to exchange information, knowledge, and expertise to tackle the spread of COVID-19. Such collaboration will also create a model for dealing with similar problems in the future.”
“As a token of my sympathy and support, I am donating from the Dalai Lama Trust to the PM CARES Fund to provide relief during such crises. I would also like to mention that members of my Office Staff would also like to contribute one day’s salary to the Fund,” he further said.
The Dalai Lama also said that the PM CARES fund would be able to provide immediate assistance to those who are suffering a livelihood loss due to the required lockdown.
“As I have stated elsewhere, I understand that as a result of the necessary lockdown around the world, many people are facing tremendous hardship due to loss of livelihood. For those who do not have a steady income, In particular, it is becoming very difficult. It is expected to meet. I hope, therefore, that charitable trusts such as the PM CARES Fund will be able to provide these people with urgently needed assistance.”
The Dalai Lama confirmed his belief in the steps taken by the central government and prayed for the effectiveness of these steps.
Last week, Prime Minister Modi announced a 21-day national lockdown to control the spread of the virus. Some other measures included the temporary suspension of all international and domestic flights. Only essential services are allowed to operate during the lockdown.
India has reported 1,251 cases, including 102 recovered and 32 deaths as per the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and interesting stories.
