MUMBAI: Even as cases of coronavirus continue to soar, unemployment and low income generation too are emerging as serious problems for society.
On Thursday, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi MLA Kshitij Thakur urged Maharashtra‘s Youth Welfare and Sports Minister Sunil Chhatrapal Kedar to allow indoor sports and inter-office cricket tournaments, after taking necessary measures as “local cricketers and sportspersons are suffering job losses owing to the ongoing pandemic outbreak.”
In a letter (TOI has a copy) to Kedar, Thakur has said: “For over five months now, the players have been without any on-field action and practice. They are losing their physical and mental strength. Besides, many are left without any income whatsoever. It is important to pull them out of this situation.”
Apparently, many local cricketers have been forced into a hand-to-mouth existence due to lack of cricketing action. With no inter-office cricket taking place, many have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. “I have requested the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to prioritize inter-office cricket tournaments with all the necessary permissions from the state government and after ensuring all social distancing measures. This will help secure their jobs,” said MCA’s Apex Council member Ajinkya Naik.