Fertilizer PSUs pledge Rs 32 crore to PM CARES fund

• Employees of two other PSUs, NFL and FACT, have donated a day's salary amounting to Rs 88 lakh and Rs 50 lakh respectively

• Many other PSUs of Fertilizers Department, like IFFCO, KRIBHCO and NFL-KISAN have also contributed more than Rs 27 crore to PM CARES fund

New Delhi: State-run IPL (Indian Potash Limited), a PSU under the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has donated Rs 5 crore to the PM CARES (Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and relief in Emergency Situations) fund to support the government in its efforts to fight COVID-19 pandemic. This takes the contribution of Fertiliser PSUs to Rs 32 crore.

2 other Ferilizer PSUs join IPL in making contribution towards PM CARES fund

Appreciating the contribution made by IPL, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said in a tweet that this will strengthen and support the relief works being carried out by the government to curb the COVOID-19 pandemic. "Dr P.S. Gahlaut, Managing Director Indian Potash Limited presented cheque of Rs 5 crore as a contribution to #PMCARES funds. Their contribution to PM-CARES will strengthen the efforts to fight #COVID19. #IndiaFightsCorona"

In two separate tweets, the minister also complemented the employees of two other PSUs, National Fertiliser Ltd (NFL) and of Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT), for donating a day's salary amounting to Rs 88 lakh and Rs 50 lakh, respectively to PM CARES fund.

The backdrop

Many other PSUs of Fertilizers Department, like IFFCO, KRIBHCO and NFL-KISAN have also contributed more than Rs 27 crore to PM CARES fund. Gowda had urged all the profit-making PSUs under his ministry to donate part of their CSR fund to PM CARES. In a letter sent to CMDs of all the PSUs, Gowda had said, "Government of India is taking all possible steps to prevent spreading 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 had said that the government 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.