PM launched PM-CARES fund for COVID-19. But why?

We are in a critical stage of fighting the Wuhan virus. For this, a nation requires resources and to collect the resources, PM Narendra Modi has launched a very important fund called PM-CARES (Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation) fund. Every ordinary citizen can contribute towards it

 The fund will help the nation stand against the pandemic, the details of which are as given:

                  

Importance of the fund today

COVID-19 has engulfed the whole world. Lakhs of cases have been reported. The coming two to three weeks are crucial in containing the virus. In most of the countries, it has been observed that when the number of reported cases cross 1000, there is a sudden spike in the number of cases.

Now suppose the number of cases couldn't be contained, then the one thing which would be required in huge numbers are the ventilators. The SARS CoV2 virus infects the lungs of a human when his immune system isn't strong enough to fight the virus. This leads to breathing problems. This requires the patient to be kept in ventilators which then helps the patient to breathe.

One of the reasons why Italy had such huge number of deaths is that it faced shortage of ventilators at the peak time.

The current availability of ventilators in India is between 30,000 and 50,000. Out of these, less than 10,000 are available in the government hospitals. The US whose population is much less than that of India has about 1,60,000  ventilators but still is running short of it.

Measures taken

To deal with this crippling shortage of medical equipments, the union government has banned the export of ventilators, sanitizers and other ICU equipment with immediate effect.

    DRDO, the government organization which manufactures missiles and weapons is now working with TATA, Mahindra for developing multi-patient ventilators. It is estimated that they will produce 20,000-25,000 ventilators in a few days.

     But why this sudden manufacture of huge number of ventilators? It is to deal with the situation when there is a sudden spike in the number of cases.

Role of DRDO in dealing with pandemic

The role played by DRDO has heen huge. DRDO has developed hand sanitizers, ventilators, five-layer masks and body suits. Around 4,000 litres of hand sanitizers have been developed for the Indian Armed Forces, Security Corps and Medical Corps. The organization has developed 1,500 litres for the Ministry of Defense and 300 litres for the Parliament. Their mission is to make 20,000 to 30,000 litres of hand sanitizers per day. The cost of the sanitizer is less than Rs 120 per litre.

Appeal of government to produce ventilators

   The Indian government, on March 24, reached out to five automobile manufacturers:

1. Tata Motors Ltd

2. Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd

3. Hyundai motor India Ltd

4. Honda cars India Ltd

5. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd

     to produce ventilators at their respective factories in collaboration with 9 existing ventilator manufacturers.

The money donated to PM-CARES fund will be used for purposes like payment for medical workers, manufacture of more equipments and the like. Now suppose we luckily escape the pandemic with little loses with the total cases only around 2000-3000, the fund will be useful if we come to face future outbreaks.

PM-CARES fund has already received many contributions from various corners:

Tata group: Rs 500 crores

Reliance industries: Rs 500 crores

Coal India Limited: Rs 220 crores

JSW: Rs 100 crores

Larson and Toubro: Rs 150 crores

Infosys: Rs 100 crores

BCCI: Rs 51 crores

Patanjali: Rs  25 crores

JSP: Rs 25 crores

IFFCO: Rs 25 crores

Kotak: Rs 25 crores

NLC:. Rs 25 crores

Airport Authority of India: Rs 20 crores

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs: Rs 8 crores

NAFED: Rs 5crores

Cello: Rs 3.5 crores

Akshay Kumar: Rs 25 crores

Bhushan Kumar(T-Series): Rs 11 crores

Motilal Oswal: Rs 5 crores

2.5 lakh SBI Employees: Rs 100 crores (2 days salaries)

NHAI: 1 day salary

CRPF: 1-2 days salary

CBI: 1 day salary

Indian Railway Employees: 1 day salary

President Ram Nath Kovind: 1 month salary