TLI Staff
New Delhi: As Coronavirus takes heavy toll on the economy putting public finances under tremendous strain, government employees and those working in the PSUs are seen shouldering part of the burden.
Even as most of them have contributed to the newly-created PM CARES Fund, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has written to all secretaries to urge employees in the ministries as well as other attached offices and PSUs to show noble gesture and donate.
In his April 16 letter, Gauba noted that government officials had in the past contributed minimum one day’s salary during national emergencies.
“Hence, it will be appreciated if an appeal is issued at your level to all officials working in your ministry/department as well as in the attached/subordinate offices and public sector undertakings (PSUs) to contribute to government’s efforts to deal with this unprecedented situation. The voluntary contribution of all the willing officials in the Ministry/Department, deducted at sources, may be sent to Prime Minister’s Citizens’ Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation Fund (PM CARES Fund) through the PFMS mechanism,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
Soon after this, various ministries have started appealing to staff members for donating to the PM CARES Fund.
The Revenue Department on April 17 issued a circular asking employees to contribute voluntarily to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund.
“It has been decided to appeal all officers and staff of Department of Revenue to contribute their one day’s salary every month till March 2021 to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund to aid the government’s efforts to fight the corona virus pandemic,” the Revenue Department said in its circular.
The contribution is, however, voluntary and the appeal is not binding.
“Any officer or staff having objection to it may intimate Drawing & Disbursement officer, Department of Revenue in writing mentioning his/her employee code latest by April 20, 2020,” the Department said in its circular.