As the country is battling the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Union government on Wednesday decided to accept foreign donations to the newly set up PM-CARES fund to tackle the unprecedented crisis.
A government source said that in view of the interest expressed to contribute to the government’s efforts, as well as keeping in mind the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, contributions to the trust can be done by individuals and organisations, both in India and abroad, reported ANI.
The news agency quoted the official as saying that the Prime Minister’s Citizens Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) fund was set up in view of several spontaneous requests from India and abroad for making contributions to support the government in its fight against COVID-19.
India has not accepted aid from other nations for a decade and a half. During the tsunami of December 2004, then Manmohan Singh government had made it clear that India did not need aid, though help in rescue operations was welcome.
However, the gravity of the current situation has made the government rethink on its policy. On Monday, while interacting with Indian envoys across the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged them to suitably publicise the newly-established PM-CARES fund to mobilise donations from abroad.
Last week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a Rs 1.7 trillion relief package, amounting to about 1 per cent of its gross domestic product, to limit the economic damage caused by the virus outbreak that has already killed around 45,000 people across the world.
