PM CARES Makes Its First Move: Rs 3,100 Crore for Care of Migrants, Acquiring Ventilators

“A sum of approximately Rs 2,000 crore will be earmarked for the purchase of ventilators, Rs 1,000 crore will be used for care of migrant labourers and Rs 100 crore will be given to support vaccine development,” the PMO said in a statement.

New Delhi: PM CARES, or Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations, Fund Trust will allocate Rs 3,100 crore for the fight against COVID-19, the Prime Minister’s Office announced.

“Out of Rs 3,100 crore, a sum of approximately Rs 2,000 crore will be earmarked for the purchase of ventilators, Rs 1,000 crore will be used for care of migrant labourers and Rs 100 crore will be given to support vaccine development,” the PMO said in a statement.

The trust formed on March 27 is headed by the prime minister. The other ex-officio members of the trust are the defence minister, the home minister and the finance minister.

The fund was created by the Narendra Modi government on March 28 to facilitate donations from private individuals and corporate entities to tackle the coronavirus crisis even though the Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF) already existed.

(With inputs from PTI)