PM CARES

Context: Ministry of Women and Child Development decided to extend the PM Cares for Children Scheme.

Details:

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has announced to extend the PM Cares for Children Scheme till 28th February, 2022.
All eligible children can enroll till 28th February, 2022 to get benefits under PM CARES for Children Scheme.

Eligibility criteria under PM CARES:

PM-CARE covers all children who have lost: Both parents or Surviving parent or legal guardian/adoptive parents/single adoptive parent due to COVID 19 pandemic, starting from 11th march 2020 the date on which WHO has declared and characterized COVID-19 as pandemic till 28th February 2022.
To get benefits under this scheme, Child should not have completed 18 years of age on the date of death of parents.

About PM-CARE:

In May 2021, the Prime Minister announced a comprehensive programme to support children who have lost both their parents due to COVID 19 pandemic.
The main objective of the scheme is to support and protect children who have lost their parents due to COVID pandemic.
Government promotes their welfare through health insurance, funding for ensuring education, health, monthly fixed allowance from the age of 18 years, and a final amount of Rs. 10 lakhs on attaining 23 years of age.
Any Citizen can inform the administration regarding an eligible child through the portal.

About PM-CARES Fund:

PM CARES Fund has been registered as a Public Charitable Trust under the Registration Act, 1908.
Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the PM CARES Fund and Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance, Government of India are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.
The fund consists entirely of voluntary contributions from individuals/organizations and does not get any budgetary support.
Donations to the Fund would qualify for 80G benefits for 100% exemption under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Donations to the Fund will also qualify to be counted as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure under the Companies Act, 2013.
It has also got exemption under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), this enables PM CARES Fund to accept donations and contributions from individuals and organizations based in foreign countries.
PM-CARES Fund is not a public authority under the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005.
The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) clarified that it wouldn’t audit the Fund as it is ‘a charitable organization’ and is also based on donations from individuals and organizations.
It would be audited by an independent auditor outside of the government.

Status of PM-CARE Fund:

The total donation received under the fund is nearly Rs 11,000 crore, while the expenditure made from the fund is about Rs 3,980 crore, according to the latest audited statement.
Rs 1,000 crore granted for migrant welfare
Government has used a part of the fund to buy medical equipment, including ventilators, to support the fight against the COVID-19 and has also provided relief to migrants.

Controversy related of PM-CARE Fund:

Notices were issued by various government departments, “urging” employees to contribute their part of salary.
Indian Railway, Army, Navy and Air force, Defence PSUs and employees of the defence ministry have donated to the Fund. While a major portion of these contributions have been voluntary in nature, it appears that many government employees weren’t given any choice.
Donations made from Public departments, and therefore the public has the right to know details of the fund and expenditure made under it, but the government made it clear that the fund is outside the preview of RTI act, and CAG will not audit the fund.
The PMO has also refused to make the public any documents related to the PM CARES fund. Total lack of transparency about the use of the funds.
The PM CARES Fund is exempt from scrutiny and monitoring of all foreign donations.