THE Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) was created on March 28 this year, in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Estimates suggest that the PM-CARES Fund has collected around R9,677 crore. Why we need a new fund when the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund already exists, is a question that continues to remain unanswered.

Trinamool Congress' MP from Krishnanagar, Mahua Moitra, knocked the doors of the Supreme Court and sought answers about the fund. In the Parliament, she lambasted the ruling government for its lack of transparency. After all, the Prime Minister's Office has refused to divulge any information about the contentious fund by denying multiple Right to Information requests.