Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik seeks CSR contribution to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has requested Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for amendment of Companies Act 2013 to allow contribution of CSR funds of public/private companies to Chief Ministers Relief Fund (CMRF). It will augment CMRF resources and help cover expenditure on pro-people activities.

Key issues raised by Chief Minister:

• Odisha CMRF uses its funds for pro-poor activities like relief to eligible indigent persons for medical treatment, assistance for last rites of deceased under Harishchandra Sahayata Yojana, providing dead body carriers to Government health institutions etc.
• Odisha CMRF has generously contributed towards causes towards relief during natural calamities in Nepal and Jammu & Kashmir
• In wake of the increasing volume of activities sunder CMRF and number of eligible poor being left unattended due to lack of resources, CMRF needs to be augmented to some extent through CSR fund of corporates

The CM sought a specific provision in Companies Act, 2013 similar to that appearing in item (IX) of its Schedule-VII for making contribution to CMRF an eligible CSR activity.

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