GoI sets up PM-CARES Funds to fight against COVID-19

On March 28, 2020, Prime Minister Modi announced PM-CARES Fund. The fund is being raised to deal with the distress or emergency as that of COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights

PM-CARES is Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations fund. It is a dedicated fund with the primary objective to deal with threats like COVID-19. A trust has been created to collect these funds. Prime Minister of India is the Chairman of the trust. The other members of the trust include Finance Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister.

Features of the Funds

Funds being donated to the PM-CARES trust is to be exempted from tax under Section 80(G) of the Income Tax Act. The account of the fund is held by the State Bank of India.

PM National Relief Funds

The other funds that are in the hands of the Prime Minster include PM National Relief Funds. He is the chairman of the fund. It was raised by the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

The PMNRF is used to support people affected by natural and man-made disasters. This inludes acid attacks, accidents and riots. It is also allotted to people for kidney transplantation treatments, heat, surgeries, etc. So far, the fund was extensively used during 2013 Uttarakhand floods, 2014 Assam Violence, 2015 Tamil Nadu Floods, 2015 Madhya Pradesh explosion.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2020