$65,213,664 in international donations were sent to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund), which was established to combat COVID-19 in India, between 2019 and 2022.
The public charity trust was established to offer help and support of any sort, including but not limited to aid in public health emergencies. In contrast to $48,89,787 ($4 mn) in FY 2021–2022, it received the biggest foreign contributions during the FY 2020–21 period, totaling $6,03,14,895 ($60 mn). In the fiscal years 2021–22 and 2020–21, respectively, interest income amounted to $17,75,970 and $12,52,287.
The domestic voluntary donations for FY 2021–22 totaled $23,11,90,827, according to the most recent audited receipt and payment reports. The fund raised $8,757,44,531 in FY 2020–21, which was a major increase in donations.
According to documents, money from the fund was spent on the establishment and operation of two makeshift COVID hospitals with 500 beds each in Muzaffarpur and Patna, as well as 16 RT-PCR testing labs spread across nine states and union territories.
Additionally, these funds were utilized to purchase 6.6 crore worth of COVID-19 vaccinations and to upgrade two independent labs into the Central Drug Laboratory (CDL), which is responsible for testing and disseminating vaccines. On the PM CARES website, the complete breakdown of donations and expenditures is available to the general public.
In May 2022, Prime Minister Modi delivered incentives under the PM CARES for Children Scheme to commemorate his completion of eight years in power. Benefits were announced under the plan for kids who lost both their parents to the COVID-19 epidemic. In addition to higher education and professional courses, the PM stated that funds will be made available for people in need of educational loans.
It was also stated that several programs will provide disadvantaged children with a monthly sum of $48. When they turned 23, a payment of $12,186 was promised to them, along with health insurance and counseling for mental and emotional assistance.
