The PM CARES Fund was formed on March 27 and is managed by a trust with PM Modi as its chairperson and senior cabinet members as trustees.
New Delhi: Rs 3,100 crore from the PM CARES Fund will be used to fight the COVID-19 crisis, the government stated on Wednesday, amid increasing pressure for transparency in its new national treasure.
ANI reported: Out of ₹3100 crores, a sum of approximately Rs.2000 crore will be earmarked for the purchase of ventilators, Rs. 1000 crore will be used for the care of migrant labourers and Rs.100 crore will be given to support vaccine development: Prime Minister’s Office
Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) allocation will pay for 50,000 “Made in India” ventilators that will be provided to government-run COVID-19 hospitals in all states and union territories treating patients of the highly contagious virus.
The Rs 1,000 crore allotted for migrant workers will be given to state governments and placed at the disposal of District Collectors or Municipal Commissioners for providing food, shelter, medical treatment and transport.
The Rs 100 crore marked for vaccine development will be spent under the supervision of government’s Principal Scientific Advisor to help Indian academia, startups and the pharmaceutical industry that have come together for research, official government statement added.
PM CARES Fund, created amid the COVID-19 crisis to be a war chest for national crises, will not be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), sources told NDTV.
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Sources in the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) offices said, “Since the fund is based on donations of individuals and organisations, we have no right to audit the charitable organisation.”
The fund, established by the cabinet on March 27, has PM Narendra Modi as its chairperson and senior cabinet members as trustees.
The opposition has asked questions about the need of the Fund when the PMNRF already exists since 1948.
The relief fund, which takes tax-free donations from individuals and corporates, has seen several high-profile donations from nearly all major industrial groups, movie stars and govt departments.
(Inputs from NDTV)
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