Gowda asks fertiliser cos to donate from CSR funds to fight coronavirus

Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Sadananda Gowda has asked all state-owned fertiliser companies to donate part of their CSR funds to the Prime Minister's relief fund to help fight COVID-19.

The government has set up the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) which would be utilised to deal with any emergency or distressed situation such as the coronavirus outbreak.

"In view to fight #Covid19 pandemic and to mitigate the impact of the outbreak, I have appealed to all the profit-making companies under my Ministry to donate part of their #CSR funds to PM CARES," Gowda tweeted.

In a letter to all the chairman and managing directors of fertiliser PSUs, the minister said, "Looking at the potential scale of the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on health and well being of our citizens, I urge upon you to contribute maximum possible amount of your CSR budget in the above mentioned fund so as to contribute in the nation's effort at this critical juncture. "