PM CARES Fund for National Emergencies

The Centre on Saturday announced setting up of s public charitable trust – Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund).

The Prime Minister’s Office said the primary objective of having a dedicated national fund is to deal with any kind of emergency, such as the situation following COVID-19 outbreak, and to provide immediate relief to the affected.

The trust will be chaired by the prime minister and members include defence minister, home minister, and the finance minister

The pandemic has spread across the world, upending economies and posing serious challenges to health security of millions.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the primary objective of having a dedicated national fund is to deal with any kind of emergency, such as the situation following the COVID-19 outbreak, to help provide immediate relief.

The trust will be chaired by the prime minister and members include defence minister, home minister, and the finance minister.

“This fund will enable micro-donations as a result of which a large number of people will be able to contribute with smallest of denominations,” the PMO said in a statement.

“People from all walks of life have 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,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on Twitter.

The pandemic has spread across the world, upending economies and posing serious challenges to health security of millions.

“Distress situations, whether natural or otherwise, demand expeditious and collective action for alleviating the suffering of those affected, mitigation/control of damage to infrastructure and capacities etc,” the PMO said, adding that building capacities for quick emergency response and effective community resilience has to be done in tandem with infrastructure and institutional capacity reconstruction/enhancement.

The government said the use of new technology and advance research findings also become an inseparable element of such concerted action.

Source: Live Mint