Rs 3100 crore from PM Cares Fund to be used for ventilators, migrants

New Delhi : Rs 3,100 crore from the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations or PM-CARES Fund will be utilized in fight against the coronavirus, the government announced on Wednesday, amid several questions posted by critics over the transparency of the funds received.

"Out of Rs 3,100 crore, a sum of approximately Rs 2,000 crore will be earmarked for the purchase of ventilators, Rs 1,000 crore will be used for care of migrant labourers and Rs 100 crores will be given to support vaccine development," Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office said in a statement.

With the allocated funds around 50,000 made in India ventilators will be purchased and provided to government run COVID-19 hospitals in the country.

The Rs 1,000 crore allotted for migrant workers will be provided to state governments and placed at the disposal of District Collectors or Municipal Commissioners for providing food, shelter, medical treatment and transport.

"State/UT-wise funds will be released on the weightage of (a) Population of the State/UT as per 2011 Census - 50%, weightage (b) Number of positive COVID-19 cases as on date - 40% weightage and (c) Equal share (10% weightage) for all states/UTs to ensure basic minimum sum for all states," the government statement said.

Another Rs 100 crores have been allocated for the vaccine development of the coronavirus. The fund will be spent under the supervision of government's Principal Scientific Advisor to help Indian academia, startups and the pharmaceutical industry that have come together for research, it added.