NEW DELHI: Soon after the government on Saturday set up Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) seeking contributions to combat situations like COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to contribute generously to the corpus, saying it will strengthen disaster management capacities and encourage research to protect citizens.
“It is my appeal to my fellow Indians. Kindly contribute to the PM-CARES Fund. This fund will also cater to similar distressing situations, if they occur in the times ahead,” the PM tweeted sharing the link through which one can contribute to the fund.
Sharing more details about the Fund, Modi said 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,” he said.
Donations to this Fund will be exempted from income tax under section 80(G). The Prime Minister is the chairman of this trust and its members include ministers of home, finance and defence.
The PMs appeal yielded immediate response with contributions pouring in. Film actor Akshay Kumar promptly announced a contribution of Rs 25 crore, which was acknowledged by Modi.
“Great gesture @akshaykumar. Lets keep donating for a healthier India,” Modi said in response to the actors declaration.
“This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi jis PM-CARES Fund. Lets save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai,” Kumar tweeted.
Sharing details about necessity of a Fund dedicated to fight against a situation like Covid-19, the government said the Prime Ministers Ofice had been receiving spontaneous and innumerable requests for making generous donations to support the government in the wake of this emergency.
“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 government said adding, “Therefore, building capacities for quick emergency response and effective community resilience has to be done in tandem with infrastructure and insRead More – Source
