PMO Helped 12,858 Needy, Reveals RTI Response

Indian Express: New Delhi: Saturday, 02 January 2016.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has helped 12,858 needy since Narendra Modi took charge as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014. In reply to an RTI query, the PMO revealed that a total of 29,678 applications were received from people across the country seeking financial assistance between May 26, 2014 and August 31, 2015. Of these, 4,059 applications were rejected while the rest are pending.

According to the PMO’s response, `174.9966 crore was disbursed from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to 12,858 needy persons. Prime Minister Modi heads the PMNRF and disbursement out of the fund is made at his discretion in accordance with his directions.

In May last year, a teacher from Bukandshahr in UP, who sought financial help for the marriage of his two sisters, received `50,000 from the PMO. According to the RTI reply, a maximum of 6,178 applications were received from Uttar Pradesh followed by 4,204 from West Bengal, 3,852 from Maharashtra and 2,568 from Kerala. A total 1,251 applications were received from Tamil Nadu and assistance was extended in 733 cases while 132 were rejected. No application was received from Daman & Diu while six applications each were received from Goa, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Nagaland. A total of 1,541 applications were received from Karnataka and 614 were approved. From Telangana 253 applications were received and sanction was granted in 119 while 86 applications were rejected.

The PMNRF primarily provides financial assistance in case of natural calamities. For example, ex-gratia of `2 lakh each for the next of kin of deceased Indians and `50,000 each for seriously injured Indians were released in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake in Indian states bordering Nepal. Also, `142.145 crore was released to the National Disaster Management Authority for replacement of medical equipment rendered dysfunctional in hospitals of Srinagar, Leh and Jammu due to the 2014 floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

The PMNRF website says a large proportion of the funds stand committed to be utilised in a phased manner for various schemes announced by the PM. Funds are also earmarked for medical assistance, floods, drought, terrorist violence and such unforeseen occurrences, with an emergency reserve.

“The Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund is primarily utilised to render immediate relief to families of those affected by natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes etc. and to victims of major accidents and riots. In addition to this, the PMNRF provides financial assistance to indigent patients for treatment of major diseases at Government/PMNRF empanelled hospitals to partially defray the expenses,” the website says.