COVID 19 Relief: PM CARES - a Secret Fund? | PM Modi - Voofacts

What is PM CARES? 

   On March 8, 2020, Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES) was created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for relief efforts in emergency pandemic situations, following the COVID-19 outbreak.

But it was criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability, as it was not listed as a public authority, which means any information regarding the fund won't come under the Right to Information Act 2005.

PmCaRES - a Secret Fund?

         As soon as Govt set up this charitable trust, Prime Minister Narendra Modi who himself is chairman of the trust appealed to people generously to donate money. People from all walks of life pooled their money in the trust to create a healthier India.

The PM-CARES Fund accepts micro-donations too. It will strengthen disaster management capacities and encourage research on protecting citizens.

Let us leave no stone unturned to make India healthier and more prosperous for our future generations. pic.twitter.com/BVm7q19R52

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2020

People from all walks of life expressed their desire to donate to India’s war against COVID-19.

Respecting that spirit, the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund has been constituted. This will go a long way in creating a healthier India.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2020

But Observers were very quick in questioning the need for separate Fund as India already has a PMNRF (Prime Minister national response fund) which was established in 1948. 

RTI's regarding the disclosure of donations and breakup expenditure details were filed in SC. NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation, in its plea before 

the Supreme Court, had sought a direction that all the money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the Covid-19 pandemic should be transferred to the NDRF(National Disaster Response fund) which was established under disaster management act, 2005.

         However, SC denied the demand of transferring funds from PM CARES to NDRF and also dismissed the Demand of CAG audit to PM CARES fund. 

         Reasons sighted were PM CARES is a charitable trust and not a public authority which in turn means that it doesn't fall under the ambit of RTI. So there is no need for a CAG audit for a voluntary fund made by citizens, and the fund cannot be transferred to NDRF since the PM CARES is very different in its nature when compared with a fund like NDRF.

         Questions to be answered...

  1. If PM CARES is not a public Authority, Why the Public members holding offices of govt such as Prime Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister are an important part of this trust?

  2. If PM CARES is not a public authority, why the regressive incentives like CSR exemptions were given to the corporate donors as a reward of their donation to this fund?

  3. if PM CARES is not a public authority, Donations from railways (amounting to 151Crore rupees) and other govt employee salaries and donations made by other govt bodies which in turn falls under the ambit of the public domain should not be maintained with this sort of secrecy.

As a responsible citizen of India, I want PM CARES to more transparent and accountable to the donors and provides the expenditure breakup details spent by PMO under this fund.

  © content by Shriram V