Corona Epidemic causing thousands of death’s worldwide; Prime Minister Modi announced nation-wide lockdown for 21-days, from March 25, 2020 to April 14, 2020. Central and State Governments enable the Social Distancing concept to prevent the spread of this dangerous virus.
Home Ministry has issued an order on March 24, 2020, invoked Section 6 (2)(i) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 or DMA 2005, directing the Ministries or Departments of Central and State Government’s to restrict the residents from Moving outside of their Homes and orders a Complete Shut Down except for essential goods and services.
The DMA, 2005 was passed to Enable the Central Government to provide a Legal Framework for setting up National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under Chairmanship of PM Modi. Section 6 of NDMA gives Central Government to manage Covid-19 Out Break, by insisting various Relief Funds at Central and State level, Allocation of Funds to prevent Novel Corona Spread in India. Central Government passed an Order under Section 72 of the DMA, 2005 by Ministry of Home Affairs. This section will Override all state orders to the extent they are inconsistent with the Home Ministry’s Order. This is the Constitutionality behind the Central Government’s Order overriding State order
Central government invoked the DMA, 2005, to order a lockdown of the country till 14th April. Similarly, State Governments invoked Acts in relation to Central Government order in the prevention of the spread of Covid-19
PM CARES Fund – The PM’s Citizen Assistance Relief in Emergency Situations Fund created on 28 March 2020. This Fund is used for Combating and Containment against the Covid-19 victims. The PM CARES Fund has been set up as a Public Charitable Trust. The Prime Minister is the Chairman of this trust and its members include Home Minister, Finance Minister and Defence Minister. PM CARES Fund takes care of legislative hurdles. Any contribution to the PM CARES Fund before 30 June would qualify for a tax exemption under Section 80G of Income Tax Act, 1961
The PM CARES fund is different from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), PMNRF created in 1948 has been used during the North India floods in 2013, South India floods in 2015. PMNRF Funds also used to offer relief to families killed in Natural Calamities such as Cyclone, Floods in Kerala during 2019. PMNRF is used for the victims of the major accidents and riots. PMNRF fund consists entirely of public donations and did not get any Budgetary Support.
PM’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) already exist? Why constitute a separate PM CARES Fund?
PM Modi has stated that a separate fund was to make it easier to track the total amount donated and spent in battling COVID-19. PMNRF is used for expenses for kidney transplantation, heart surgeries, cancer treatment etc.
Some expressing concern that while the PM Cares Fund Members include the Defence, Home and Finance Ministers, Why are no chief ministers inducted? But we can see several State Funds formed in this regard and the same explains the scenario. Further the legal aspects of its formation, the Policies, Rules, Expenditure and the eligibility of its membership, and more are still to be explained in detail
Contributions to the PM Care Fund
1) Fund transfer
A/C Name: PM CARES
A/C Number: 2121PM20202
IFSC Code: SBIN0000691
Bank and Branch name: SBI, New Delhi Main Branch
UPI ID: pmcares@sbi
2) Online on “pmindia.gov.in” website
Using Debit or credit cards
Internet Banking, UPI (BHIM, Paytm, PhonePe Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Mobikwik, etc)
RTGS/NEFT
3) QR Code
Scan and pay with BHIM UPI app
Edited by Pragash Boopal
Approved & Published – Sakshi Raje
