Gowda urges PSUs under his Ministry to release their CSR funds for fighting COVID-19

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : In view of the urgent need to fight COVID-19 pandemic, Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister D  V Sadananda Gowda has urged all the profit making PSUs under his Ministry to donate part of their CSR funds to Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES)

In a letter sent to CMDs of all the PSUs, Gowda said,” The Government of India is taking all possible steps to prevent spread of the outbreak,  however, a public health situation of this scale requires concerted efforts from all sections of the society,therefore, I request you all to contribute maximum possible amount of your CSR budget to PM CARES”. He said that the Government of India has set up the PM CARES fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation such as that posed by COVID-19 pandemic and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has already clarified that any contribution made to the said fund shall qualify as CSR expenditure under the Companies Act 2013.

Gowda said that it is a good opportunity for the PSUs to utilise their unspent CSR funds for financial year 2019-20 by contributing to the aforesaid fund immediately. Similarly, the companies may also contribute to this fund from April 2020 onwards for FY 2020-21. He said that he has also requested CMDs of all the PSUs to motivate the employees of their company to voluntarily contribute at least their one day salary to PM CARES fund, according to a PIB release.