Extending monetary help, mobilising a panel of docs, psychiatrist and psychologists to present medical/emotional on-line consultations, 24×7 helpline for members of chess group affected by Covid-19 are the novel initiatives taken by All India Chess Federation (AICF), a senior official mentioned.
With Covid-19 pandemic spreading throughout the nation, like many others chess gamers have been additionally affected and so as to help the affected gamers, the AICF has embarked upon the Checkmate Covid programme.
“We have began the initiative Checkmate Covid to present monetary, medical and emotional help to chess gamers,” Bharat Singh Chauhan, Secretary, told IANS.
The initiative was officially launched on May 4 with global chess body with the participation of FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, AICF officials, industrialists/businessmen, five times World Chess Champion V. Anand, World No. 3 and No. 9 in the Women’s Chess K. Humpy and D. Harika, respectively, and other top Indian players like Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and B. Adhiban.
According to AICF, a sum of Rs 60 lakh has been raised till date under the Checkmate Covid initiative.
“The AICF has also contributed Rs 11 lakh for the initiative and will contribute more to bridge the shortfall if any. Already chess players and others are contributing for the fund,” Chauhan mentioned.
On the company aspect Ashok Jain, Chairman of Jain Irrigation by his household and the corporate have dedicated Rs.11 lakh.
According to Chauhan, a number of state chess associations are additionally contributing for the Checkmate Covid fund.
The AICF may also method the federal government establishments for precedence vaccination of the gamers who’re collaborating in worldwide tournaments/championships.
An quantity of Rs 500 can be reimbursed to the needy personnel of the chess group who receives a commission vaccination from non-public hospitals, below the brand new programme.
Chauhan mentioned any member of the Indian chess group with FIDE identification quantity and registered with AICF for any of the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 years can apply for monetary help below the Checkmate Covid programme.
“We may also think about aiding previous and poor members of the chess group,” Chauhan said.
Those seeking financial assistance should apply through the Nodal Officers who are majorly office bearers of state chess associations.
Queried about empaneling doctors for the programme, Chauhan thanking them, said: “Many of the doctors were chess players or parents of a chess player. Despite their other schedule, they have agreed to contribute their time to our initiative.”
Chauhan additionally thanked chess gamers like Anand, Humpy, Harika and others for agreeing to spare their time for this programme.
According to him, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the variety of registered AICF members was about 100,000.
This quantity got here down final 12 months as there have been no main chess actions and later went up after a number of on-line chess occasions have been organised, Chauhan mentioned.
A committee that’s concerned in Checkmate Covid initiative will come out with fund elevating programmes, Chauhan mentioned.
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