Congress Criticises Government Over Low Utilisation of PM CARES Fund
· India · Times of India, The Hindu
The Congress party has criticised the central government for utilising only 0.01% of the Rs 8,452 crore available in the PM CARES Fund as of March 31, 2025. Rajya Sabha member Pawan Khera stated that the funds remain idle despite the need for relief during natural calamities across India. According to the latest audit report, domestic donations to the fund fell by 30% to Rs 479 crore in the 2024-25 financial year, while foreign contributions declined by 18% to Rs 92.8 lakh. Total payments made from the fund during 2024-25 amounted to Rs 87.85 lakh, a decrease from the Rs 15.6 crore spent in the previous year. Most of the fund's balance is currently held in fixed deposits.
Why it matters
The criticism highlights ongoing political debate regarding the transparency and deployment of emergency relief funds intended for public welfare during crises.
Read the original report — Times of India
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