Why is the PM CARE Fund is so controversial..?

 

Since it launch in March 2020, PM CARE Fund has been subject of polarizing debate in India. let us see All about the PM CARE Fund.

ESTABLISHMENT-  Keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected, a public charitable trust under the name of 'Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund(PM CARES Fund)' has been set up in March 2020.

STRUCTURE- Prime Minister is the Ex-officio chairman.

Current Members

Chairman- Mrs. Narendra Modi

Trustees 1.Rajnath Singh (Ministry of  Defence)

                2. Amit Shaha (Minister of  Home Affair)

                3.Nirmla Sitharaman (Ministry of finance)

PM shall have power to nominate three trustees to the board of Trustee. Who shall be eminent person in the field of Research, Health, Science, Social Work, Low, Public Administration, and Philanthropy.

COLLECTION OF FUND-

1.Voluntary Donation

2.Transfer of funds from public sector undertaking, banks, and educational institutions.

3. Default and mandatory donation.

Donation have been, 100% exempted from Income Tax, Can be counted against company CSR, Audited by independent auditors.

SPENDING AND ALLOCATIONS

The PM had said that the Prime Minister Office had received many requests to help in the war against COVID-19 and that the PM CARE Fund would be used for disaster management and research. On 10 may 2020, government officials stated that spending and allocations from the Fund would begin once a "respectable amount" had been collected. The fund has not disclosed its spending or procurement guidelines.

CONTROVERSIES- Narendra Modi government claims that the fund is an effective tool to provide Covid relief, its critics argue that it is not very transparent. There are also other problems such as suspect donation and spending patterns.

                   So since the fund was created, it has been beset by controversy for being non transparent. Though this has reached the SC, the center is in no mood to answer this question. Also the PM CARE fund is not declared under RTI for the same reason CAG isn't auditing it because it isn't public body as it is not funded by the consolidated fund of India(CFI). Though whatever the reason it should still be declared under RTI as people have a right to know where their donation being used.

So this is all about PM CARE fund., what is your view on PM CARE Fund. Do let me know in comment section.

Thank you:)