Today marks 3 months since the ‘PM CARES’ Fund aka ‘Modi Fund’ was announced.

Its purpose, the name, the massive fundraising, its special treatment & the thousands of crores unspent raises many questions.

The only clear answer is that PM DOES NOT REALLY CARE.

Here’s why:
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The numbers first.

@IndiaSpend estimated a whopping ₹9,677.9 cr total donation to ‘PM CARES’ Fund(based on govt press releases & media reports). Another ₹2,098.2 cr had been pledged to the Fund as of last week.

ONLY ₹3100 cr has been released from the ‘Modi Fund’. Why?
2/n

Millions of migrants are marching home for months. Shramik Trains are running terribly late & workers are starving. Workers are shelling exorbitant amounts for tickets.

The ‘Modi Fund’ released ONLY ₹1000 cr for migrant workers, 15 days ago. Why not more? Why the delay?

3/n

The ‘Modi Fund’ earmarked ₹2000 cr for purchase of ‘Made in India’ ventilators.

@thewire_in reported on poor quality of certain ‘Made in India’ ventilators, allegedly made by cronies close to the establishment & procured by Gujarat govt.

Is ₹2000 cr going down the drain?

4/n

We have witnessed desperate calls from doctors, nurses & other essential workers for Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs). Why was the ‘Modi Fund’ not used to ensure sufficient PPEs for health workers? Does the PM not care for the lives of health workers?

5/n

Testing is a key element of dealing with the COVID19 crisis. Why is the ‘Modi Fund’ not being used to procure enough RT-PCR tests? Why cannot more tests be procured at scale to reduce costs & distribute them to the states?

6/n

Why do we need a ‘PM CARES Fund’?

What can a ‘Modi Fund’ do that PM National Relief Fund(PMNRF), Chief Minister Relief Funds, & State Disaster Management Authority funds can’t do? Why were existing funds not repurposed?

Is it because none of them can be used for PR of PM?

7/n

CSR law has been changed to divert CSR funds given to NGOs to the ‘Modi Fund’.

Corporates that are firing workers by the hundreds are donating to the ‘Modi Fund’. Why can’t they protect their workers first?

CM relief funds cannot access CSR donations.Why the discrimination?
8/n

Lastly, but importantly, the ‘Modi Fund’ lacks transparency . The citizens have a right to know where & how the money they have donated for the nation’s cause has been used.

Will the trust deed stating objects, rules and regulations for operation of the trust be released?

9/n

In summary, the ‘PM CARES’ Fund aka ‘Modi Fund’ is ineffective, concentrates scarce resources, & is opaque. In a time of national crisis & distress where time & money are of essence, it is criminal to waste both.

It shows that the PM DOES NOT REALLY CARE.

#SpeakUpIndia

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2 months not 3**