Om Birla lauds Staff of House for contributing to PM CARES Fund as India battles COVID-19

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday appreciated officers and staff of House, who have contributed ir one day's salary to PM-CARES fund. Contributing to efforts to tackle vel Coronavirus crisis in country, Lok Sabha Secretariat employees had pledged to donate ir one-day salaries totalling Rs 45 lakh.

Speaker had on March 29 urged MPs to forward consent letters to Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation towards utilising a sum of Rs 1 crore or more from ir MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) funds and supplement government's efforts to fight global pandemic.

Earlier, Om Birla also donated his one month's salary to Prime Minister's Relief Fund which has been set up to fight war against vel Coronavirus. He had previously urged people to exercise caution to prevent spread of Coronavirus. He asserted that Parliament supports PM Modi's address to nation. Om Birla also added that entire world is battling with COVID-19 crisis and India is also making all its possible efforts.

People from different walks of life, including businessmen and Bollywood actors, paramilitary force and politicians have been donating in Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) fund created to help central government meet corona crisis.

READ: COVID-19: Meenakshi Lekhi donates to PM CARES Fund, urges people to follow suit & tag her

READ: COVID-19: Satya Nadella’s wife donates Rs 2 cr each to PM CARES & Telangana CM Fund

PM CARES Donation Fund

With India battling Coronavirus pandemic which has ensnared globe in a vice-like grip, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set up a charitable trust where citizens, corporates, organisations and just about anyone else can contribute funds towards relief effort. 

fund is called  Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund and is being called PM CARES Fund. PM is Chairman of this trust, with Defence Minister, Finance Minister and Home Minister or members.

re are a number of ways to donate to fund, one of which is via a bank transfer, and donations will be exempted from income tax under section 80(G). As per PM Modi, fund will also cater to or distressing situations, if y occur in times ahead.  

Meanwhile, total number of coronavirus cases in India stood at 1,637 on Wednesday, after 386 new positive cases were reported from yesterday till w.

READ: PM Modi thanks ONGC for chipping in Rs 300 Cr to PM CARES fund as India battles COVID-19

READ: COVID-19: Lakshmi Mittal anunces contribution of Rs 100 cr to PM CARES Fund