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In addition to the Rs 2,400 crore of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund, more than 100 government companies gave Rs 155 crore to the PM Cares Fund from their employees' salary.
The Indian Express newspaper has reported through the ITI that ONGC gave Rs 29.06 crore out of the salary of its employees. At the same time, BSNL gave Rs 11.43 crore.
Through RTI, the newspaper has come to know that 24 government companies have given funds of more than 1 crore from the salary of the staff in the PM Cares fund.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), which manages this fund, has said in response to an RTI that PM Cares Fund is not a public authority covered under the RTI Act and the information related to it can be seen on its website.
It is important to note that when the epidemic of corona virus started, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced it, after which it was launched on March 28 this year. As of 31 March, it had reached 3,076.62 crore.
Overall, the RTI responses show, 24 PSUs gave Rs 1 crore or more to the fund from staff salaries.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which manages the fund, had declined to furnish details of the contributions received. “PM CARES Fund is not a public authority under the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. However, relevant information in respect of PM CARES Fund may be seen on the website pmcares.gov.in,” it said in an RTI response.
The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund was created on 28 March 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The fund will be used for combating, and containment and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and similar pandemic like situations in the future.
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