‘PM CARES? Hardly’: Congress jabs govt for utilising only 0.01% of relief fund

The Congress party has harshly criticized the government for utilizing a paltry 0.01% of the PM CARES Fund, established in 2020 to aid relief efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rajya Sabha member Pawan Khera rebuked the Prime Minister for failing to disburse more funds, even as natural disasters continue to ravage communities across the nation, leaving thousands in dire need of relief and rehabilitation.

According to the fund's latest audit report, only Rs 8,452 crore is currently sitting idle in the PM CARES Fund, while domestic donations fell by 30% to nearly Rs 479 crore in the fiscal year 2024-25, and foreign donations declined by 18% to Rs 92.8 lakh. In 2023-24, domestic contributions amounted to Rs 681.8 crore, while foreign contributions totaled Rs 1.13 crore.

The analysis of audited statements reveals that voluntary domestic contributions peaked at Rs 7,184 crore in 2020-21 and have plummeted to Rs 909 crore in 2022-23. As of March 31, 2025, the total balance in the PM CARES Fund stood at Rs 8,452 crore, compared to Rs 7,173 crore the previous year.

Of the total balance, Rs 7,846 crore is held in fixed deposits, and Rs 605 crore is deposited in savings bank accounts. The fund disbursed Rs 87.8 lakh under the PM CARES for Children Scheme during 2024-25, a significant drop from Rs 15.37 crore in the previous year.

Overall payments made by the fund during 2024-25 amounted to Rs 87.85 lakh, a sharp contrast to Rs 15.6 crore in the prior financial year. Foreign contributions have also witnessed a substantial decline, plummeting from Rs 495 crore in 2020-21 to a meager Rs 92.8 lakh in 2024-25.