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Tag: PM Cares Fund

  • PM CARES fund not ‘public authority’, RTI Act not relevant: Centre to Delhi HC

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday knowledgeable the Delhi High Court that the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund isn’t a ‘public authority’ below the definition of Right to Information (RTI) Act and the belief doesn’t come below its provisions.

    “PM CARES Fund has not been created under the Constitution of India or by any law made by Parliament or state legislature,” the Centre stated in an affidavit submitted earlier than the Delhi High Court.

    “This trust is neither intended to be nor is in fact owned, controlled or substantially financed by any government nor by any instrumentality of the government. There is no control of either the Central Government or any State Government, either direct or indirect, in the functioning of the trust in any manner whatsoever,” it added.

    The courtroom was listening to a plea searching for to declare the PM CARES Fund a ‘State’ below the Constitution to make sure transparency in its functioning. The authorities submitted an in depth response within the matter after a Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad had expressed displeasure over the one-page reply filed by the Centre in July.

    ALSO READ | Why are PM CARES Fund trustees afraid to disclose names of donors, asks Chidambaram

    “The composition of the Board of Trustees consisting of holders of Public Office ex Officio is merely for administrative convenience and for smooth succession to the Trusteeship,” the affidavit stated additional.

    The PM CARES Board of Trustees consists of the Union Home Minister and the Union Finance Minister, together with Ratan Tata, the previous chairman of Tata Sons, KT Thomas, former Judge, Supreme Court, and Kariya Munda, Former Deputy Speaker.

    The petitioners, represented by Senior Advocate Shyam Divan argued, “High functionaries of the government like the Vice-President had requested the Rajya Sabha members to make donations” and that “the PM CARES Fund has been projected as a government fund”.

    The affidavit, nonetheless, calls the PM CARES Fund a “public charitable trust”, which accepts solely “voluntary donations” and is “not a business of the Central government”, the response said, “PM CARES Fund does not receive funds or finances by the Government.”

     The Centre had comparable submissions earlier saying, PM CARES Fund isn’t a “public authority” below the ambit of Section 2 (h) of the RTI Act, additional clarifying that no authorities cash is credited to the PM CARES Fund and solely unconditional and voluntary contributions are accepted below PM CARES Fund.

    “It is reiterated that the trust’s fund is not a fund of the Government of India and the amount does not go in the Consolidated Fund of India,” stated an earlier affidavit filed by the PMO.

    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday knowledgeable the Delhi High Court that the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund isn’t a ‘public authority’ below the definition of Right to Information (RTI) Act and the belief doesn’t come below its provisions.

    “PM CARES Fund has not been created under the Constitution of India or by any law made by Parliament or state legislature,” the Centre stated in an affidavit submitted earlier than the Delhi High Court.

    “This trust is neither intended to be nor is in fact owned, controlled or substantially financed by any government nor by any instrumentality of the government. There is no control of either the Central Government or any State Government, either direct or indirect, in the functioning of the trust in any manner whatsoever,” it added.

    The courtroom was listening to a plea searching for to declare the PM CARES Fund a ‘State’ below the Constitution to make sure transparency in its functioning. The authorities submitted an in depth response within the matter after a Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad had expressed displeasure over the one-page reply filed by the Centre in July.

    ALSO READ | Why are PM CARES Fund trustees afraid to disclose names of donors, asks Chidambaram

    “The composition of the Board of Trustees consisting of holders of Public Office ex Officio is merely for administrative convenience and for smooth succession to the Trusteeship,” the affidavit stated additional.

    The PM CARES Board of Trustees consists of the Union Home Minister and the Union Finance Minister, together with Ratan Tata, the previous chairman of Tata Sons, KT Thomas, former Judge, Supreme Court, and Kariya Munda, Former Deputy Speaker.

    The petitioners, represented by Senior Advocate Shyam Divan argued, “High functionaries of the government like the Vice-President had requested the Rajya Sabha members to make donations” and that “the PM CARES Fund has been projected as a government fund”.

    The affidavit, nonetheless, calls the PM CARES Fund a “public charitable trust”, which accepts solely “voluntary donations” and is “not a business of the Central government”, the response said, “PM CARES Fund does not receive funds or finances by the Government.”

     The Centre had comparable submissions earlier saying, PM CARES Fund isn’t a “public authority” below the ambit of Section 2 (h) of the RTI Act, additional clarifying that no authorities cash is credited to the PM CARES Fund and solely unconditional and voluntary contributions are accepted below PM CARES Fund.

    “It is reiterated that the trust’s fund is not a fund of the Government of India and the amount does not go in the Consolidated Fund of India,” stated an earlier affidavit filed by the PMO.

  • SC refuses to entertain plea searching for disclosure of PM-CARES Fund

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a plea searching for a course to the Centre to reveal accounts, exercise and expenditure particulars of the PM-CARES Fund and make it open for audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

    A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai requested the petitioner to strategy the Allahabad excessive courtroom and file a evaluation petition within the matter.

    Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, showing for the petitioner, submitted that the ambit of reduction sought is completely completely different and validity and disclosure of PM-CARES Fund was sought.

    He mentioned the High Court dismissed the petition counting on CPIL (judgment of the highest courtroom) and said that the High Court was not appropriate in relying solely on the judgment.

    The bench mentioned: “You might be right in saying that all issues were not considered. We don’t know if you had argued. You go and file a review. Let us have the benefit of that.”

    “Petitioner referred to relief claimed in petition and submitted that points have not been dealt with by the High Court while dismissing. Only ground was that this is covered by CPIL judgment. Senior counsel seeks permission to withdraw SLP to go and argue in HC these other grounds. Granted. Permitted as withdrawn. Petitioner at Liberty to approach this court later if aggrieved”.

    The enchantment, filed by advocate Divya Pal Singh, challenged the Allahabad High Court’s judgement dated August 31, 2020.

    Singh alleged that “unimaginable and unfathomable quantities of public cash is pumped unabatedly on a regular basis, into the coffers of the Fund”.

    The High Court had dismissed the PIL counting on the apex courtroom’s choice of August 18, 2020, which refused a plea by NGO CPIL for the CAG audit of PM-CARES Fund.

    The high courtroom had refused to direct the Centre to switch the contributions made to the PM CARES Fund for battling the COVID-19 pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) saying each are solely completely different funds with separate object and function.

  • After DRDO’s 2-DG drug, 1.50 lakh models from PM CARES fund accepted buy of Oxycare system

    The drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) formulated by DRDO has been accepted by the Drug Controller General of India amidst the havoc of Corona throughout the nation. Along with this, DRDO is constructing hospitals in essentially the most corona contaminated elements of the nation. At the identical time, DRDO groups are continually making all efforts to avoid wasting the lives of the countrymen on this period of epidemics. Amidst all this, DRDO has designed OxyCare system to remove the dearth of oxygen within the nation. An wonderful resolution has been taken by the Central Government to take this step additional by DRDO.

    After the anti-covid drug, now the Defense Research and Development Organization has totally ready to resolve the oxygen downside of the sufferers. After this DRDO’s Oxycare System Discovery has been accepted for buy by way of PM Care Fund. DRDO might quickly begin its provide course of. This data has been supplied by DRDO.

    According to the information, to beat the oxygen scarcity, the acquisition of 1 lakh 50 thousand models of Oxycare system ready by the DRDO has been accepted from the PM Cares Fund. The worth of this oxycare system is being stated to be Rs 322.5 crores. It is a SpO2-based oxygen provide system, which regulates oxygen, delivering oxygen to the affected person primarily based on the SpO2 degree.

  • PUBG Mobile’s Indian model could also be referred to as Battlegrounds India

    NEW DELHI :
    South Korean Krafton Inc. could also be seeking to change the identify of its banned battle royale cellular sport, PUBG Mobile, to Battlegrounds Mobile India. The firm revealed new posters for the sport by its Facebook and YouTube channels, which present the brand new identify, sparking rumours of a doable relaunch within the nation. The firm had earlier mentioned it was engaged on a brand new sport referred to as PUBG Mobile India, which might be meant particularly for the nation. An e-mail despatched to the corporate asking for a clarification remained unanswered on the time of writing.

    The firm has been making an attempt to relaunch the sport in India for some time now, and had mentioned it will be organising operations within the nation as nicely. Krafton has put out a number of job postings on LinkedIn over the previous few months, with the newest being a place for a authorities relations supervisor, which was posted a few week in the past.

    Krafton Inc had additionally introduced a donation of Rs1.5 crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s PM Cares Fund final week. “India is navigating a difficult time with the present wave of covid-19. We stay dedicated to supporting the efforts of the federal government in battling this unprecedented disaster. We hope our contribution to the PM Car Fund will assist the help efforts at the moment operational on floor,” mentioned Changhan (CH) Kim, chief government officer of Krafton Inc, on the time.

    PUBG Mobile was among the many over 200 Chinese apps banned by the Indian authorities after the Galwan Valley conflict with China final 12 months. This led Krafton to withdraw the sport’s licence from Chinese Tencent Games, which was answerable for its operations within the nation. Krafton had additionally mentioned it will be hiring “over 100 workers” in India for business, esports and game development, and would establish an office in the country. It plans to invest $100 million in India to “cultivate local video game, esports, entertainment and IT industries”.

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  • 551 oxygen era crops to be arrange utilizing PM CARES fund

    The PM CARES Fund will likely be utilised to arrange 551 oxygen era crops in public well being services throughout the nation, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) mentioned Sunday. The crops, which will likely be made operational “as soon as possible”, will guarantee uninterrupted provide of oxygen in authorities hospitals at district headquarters, the PMO added.
    The announcement comes at a time when a number of hospitals within the nation have complained of extreme shortages of medical oxygen.
    “In line with Prime Minister’s direction of boosting availability of oxygen to hospitals, the PM CARES Fund has given in-principle approval for allocation of funds for installation of 551 dedicated Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Medical Oxygen Generation Plants inside public health facilities in the country. PM has directed that these plants should be made functional as soon as possible. He said that these plants will serve as a major boost to oxygen availability at the district level,” the PMO said in a press launch.
    It added that the in-house oxygen era facility would handle “day to day medical oxygen needs of these hospitals and the district”.

    The PMO mentioned the PM CARES fund had earlier this 12 months allotted Rs 201.58 crore for set up of extra 162 devoted PSA Medical Oxygen Generation Plants inside public well being services within the nation.

  • SBI donates Rs 11 crore to PM CARES Fund to bolster COVID-19 vaccination drive

    Image Source : PTI (FILE) SBI donates Rs 11 crore to PM CARES Fund to bolster COVID-19 vaccination drive
    In order to assist subsequent part of presidency’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, State Bank of India (SBI) has determined to contribute Rs 11 crore to the PM CARES Fund. 
    Dinesh Khara, Chairman, SBI stated, “It is at times of adversity that the true form of unity is tested, and we all can take pride in the efforts that our nation has put in to fight the pandemic. The fight against the pandemic is not yet over, and as a responsible Corporate Citizen, we consider it our duty to support the government’s efforts to vaccinate all. I request everyone to come forward and help in whatever way they can to ensure a successful vaccination drive.”
    Early final yr, SBI had dedicated 0.25% of its annual revenue to assist the combat in opposition to COVID-19 and in addition made important contribution within the type of provide of masks, sanitizers amongst others to the needy. Additionally, SBI staff of their effort to assist the nation within the unprecedented occasions had contributed Rs. 107 crores to the PM CARES Fund.

    The subsequent part of the COVID-19 vaccination drive commenced right this moment. Citizens above 60 years and people aged 45 and above with comorbidities will be capable to register and e-book an appointment on the Co-WIN2.0 portal. All vaccines supplied to beneficiaries on the authorities well being services will probably be solely freed from price, whereas non-public services can not cost the beneficiary a sum above Rs 250 per particular person per dose. Private hospitals must remit the price of vaccine doses allotted to them in a delegated account of National Health Authority (NHA).
     
    READ MORE: India begins subsequent part of COVID vaccination from right this moment: What you must know
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  • Ex-bureaucrats flag ‘clear lack of transparency’ in PM Cares Fund

    In an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a bunch of 100 retired civil servants have flagged a scarcity of transparency within the PM Cares Fund, asking for the monetary particulars of receipts and expenditures to be made public.
    The retired bureaucrats, together with S C Behar, Ok Sujatha Rao and A S Dulat, stated the aim for which the fund was created in addition to the best way it has been administered have left quite a lot of questions unanswered.
    They stated the speedy trigger for the letter was the refusal to expose particulars beneath RTI “on the grounds that the PM Cares Fund is not a Public Authority under the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005”. “If it is not a public authority, how have the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister and Finance Minister, as members of the government, lent their designations and official positions to it? Why are they Trustees in their official capacity …” they requested.

    Lamenting the “clear absence of transparency in every aspect of the Fund, the retired civil servants said this opacity was “disturbing” as states governments dealing with the challenges of the pandemic “were, and continue to be, sorely in need of financial assistance”.