Why in News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for victims of a mishap in Birbhum, West Bengal.
- ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased person.
- ₹50,000 for each injured person.
About PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF)
- Established: 1948, following an appeal by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Initially created to provide assistance to people displaced from Pakistan.
- It now provides immediate relief to victims of:
- Natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and earthquakes.
- Major accidents and riots.
- It also provides financial assistance for certain medical treatments, including heart surgeries, kidney transplantation, cancer treatment and acid attacks.
- PMNRF is funded entirely through voluntary public contributions and receives no budgetary support from the government.
- The fund is not constituted by Parliament and is recognised as a Trust under the Income Tax Act.
- Prime Minister is the Chairman of PMNRF, with disbursements made with the Prime Minister’s approval.
- Contributions to PMNRF are eligible for 100% deduction from taxable income under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, subject to applicable provisions.
