HRD ministry controlled institutions contribute Rs39 crore to PM-CARES fund

Central government funded institutions and education bodies have contributed Rs39 crore to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund, the union government said Sunday.

“Twenty-eight different Institutions, autonomous organisations, departments of Ministry of human resource development (HRD) have contributed more than ₹38.91 crore to PM CARES Fund to fight against covid-19 ,” the ministry said Sunday.

Among institutions and organizations, the Kendriya VIdyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has contributed Rs10.4 crore and the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) has contributed Rs7.8 crore, data shared by the ministry showed .

Established in 1963, KVS currently is a chain of 1235 schools across India catering to over 1.3 million students across India and functions under the HRD ministry. Similarly, started in 1985, NVS currently runs a chain of over 660 schools across India. Both Central Schools and Navaodya Vidyalayas are considered the best schools in the country despite their direct government affiliation.

Besides, NVS and KVs, education regulators like University Grants Commission, All Indian Council of Technical Education, IITs, IIMs, National Institutes of technology (NITs) and other centrally funded institutions have contributed to the overall Rs. 39 crore calculation of the HRD ministry for the PM CARES.

Established on 28 March, the PM CARES fund has garnered a huge traction in the country and has been receiving good contribution from the industry and citizens in general. The Aditya Birla Group on Friday had said that it has donated ₹400 crore to the PM-CARES, besides setting aside ₹100 crore towards its own corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative and for the supply of N95 masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators.

According to the ministry statement, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokriyal has donated one month’s salary and allocated Rs. 1 crore from MP Local Area Development (MP LAD) fund to the PM CARES and has requested educational institutions to donate the Pm CARES to strengthen the fight against the covid-19 pandemic.

Separately, the minister in an interview to the news agency said that his ministry “will review the situation on April 14 and depending upon the circumstances, a decision will be taken on whether schools and colleges can be reopened now or have to be closed for more time”.