CPI(M) demands transfer of PM-CARES fund to state governments

CPI(M) has again reiterated that the details of the PM-CARE funds must be brought in the public domain. The party has demanded that fund should be immediately transferred to the state governments who are in the frontline combating the pandemic.

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India Marxist, popularly known as the CPI(M), has demanded that the fund allocated for PM-CARES fund immediately transferred to the state governments who are in the frontline combating the pandemic. The opposition party has asked BJP to release the funds to augment the health facilities and meet the shortages of infrastructure for testing of people and treatment of patients affected by the coronavirus.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) is of the firm opinion that this fund must be made transparent and accountable and must be immediately transferred to the state governments who are in the frontline combating the pandemic. The details of this fund must be made public and subjected to public scrutiny.

The CPI(M) had earlier asked these funds to be released. It claimed that serious allegations have been exposed in connection with the procurement of ventilators from this fund without any open tendering process.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) is deeply disturbed at the stubborn refusal of the Prime Minister’s Office to disclose the details of the PM Cares Fund after it was declared that the fund is set-up by a private trust with Prime Minister as the Chair and ministers of Defence, Home Affairs and Finance as trustees. The government had stated that the PM-CARE fund being a private fund is not subjected to RTI questioning and audit by any government auditor.

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PM-CARE fund was announced in March after which public appeal was issued for liberal donations to this fund with the ostensible aim to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Government employees and professionals were made compulsorily compelled to donate their day’s salary.

The Companies Act 2013 was also amended to allow donations to this fund of a private trust to be eligible under Corporate Social Responsibility contributions with various tax exemptions.

CPI(M) posed a set of questions as to why a separate private trust fund had to be created when the official Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund has been in existence since independence, which is transparent, accountable, and audited by the CAG. But until now, there has been no answer.

According to media reports, around Rs. 10,000 crores have already been collected by this fund. Out of this, government agencies and employees have donated more than Rs 4,000 crore.