COVID-19 update: CM of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal donates 1 month’s salary towards PMCARES fund

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal has donated one month’s salary towards PMCARES fund.

Various organizations and personalities have contributed towards the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund established for the fight against coronavirus pandemic.

Prominent among them are the following:

Reliance Industries (RIL), here on Monday, announced to contribute Rs 500 crore to the PM CARES Fund. Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has on Monday pledged Rs 26.25 crore to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund. Public sector hydropower major Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) has announced to contribute Rs 5 crore to the Fund.

Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan has contributed Rs 1 crore

Ace boxer and Rajya Sabha MP Mary Kom and Former India opener and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir on Monday released Rs one crore each from their MPLADS Fund.

India all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who was part of the eves’ T20 World Cup team, also contributed

Officers and staff of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) have also resolved to contribute one day’s salary to the ‘PM CARES Fund’.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has said that donations made by companies to the Prime Minister’s Citizens Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) will be considered as expenditure on corporate social responsibility (CSR).

In a tweet on Sunday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman said that CSR Funds can now donate to PM CARES Fund.

“The PM CARES Fund has been set up to provide relief to those affected by any kind of emergency or distress situation. Accordingly, it is clarified that any contribution made to the PM CARES Fund shall qualify as CSR expenditure under the Companies Act 2013,” said a circular by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

The decision comes days after the government decided to include corporates’ spending on checking coronavirus as part of the CSR.