NEWDELHI: The fund flow to the PM CARES Fund was kicked off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by donating Rs.2.25 lakh from his savings just after it was set up, officials in the Prime Minister's Office have said. The money collected under PM CARES is spent in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

"PM Modi donated ₹ 2.25 lakh towards the initial contribution of PM CARES Fund after it was set up. Modi’s philanthropist acts have a long history. He contributes to public causes like girl child education, the Ganga cleaning projects and for the welfare of the underprivileged. These donations have now exceeded ₹ 103 crore," said a PMO official.

Modi always gave prominence to girl child education and he had contributed Rs.21 lakh from his own savings for educating daughters of Gujarat government staff on completing his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. On another instance he donated Rs.89.96 crore he received by auctioning all the gifts he got while he was the chief minister to Kanya Kelavani Fund which aids girl children for their education

PM Modi last year donated ₹ 21 lakh from his personal savings for the welfare of sanitation workers at the Kumbh Mela held in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. Modi received Seoul Peace Prize in South Korea and the prize money of Rs.1.3 crore was wholly donated for works on cleaning the Ganga. Another Rs.3.40 crore drawn from an auction of his mementoes were contributed to the river cleaning mission. The gifts the prime minister received in 2015 were auctioned for Rs.8.35 crore were given to Namame Ganga Mission, told the officials.

The Congress and others parties have questioned the legal validity of PM CARES Fund and questioned the need for it, pointing to the similar Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). PM CARES Fund cannot be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India since the fund is based on donations from individuals and organisations.PM CARES Fund can accept donations and contributions from individuals and organisations abroad as it is exempted under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and a separate account has been opened for receiving foreign donations.