Bengal FM Amit Mitra wants CM relief funds considered under CSR

West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra has asked Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to allow contributions made to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or any fund dedicated exclusively to Covid-19 efforts to count towards corporate social responsibility (CSR) spends of companies.

In a letter to Sitharaman dated March 16, the state minister said not enabling this provision severely jeopardizes the states’ efforts to raise funds for their Covid-19 operations.

Mitra said the West Bengal State Emergency Relief Fund, set up under the overall umbrella of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and dedicated to combat Covid-19 had received encouraging response from people and businesses


However, much confusion arose from the clarification released by the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) on April 10 which states that contributions to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or funds set up by the states Covid-19 relief would not be counted as part of a company's CSR obligations, the state minister said.

“I, therefore, urge you to advice the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to allow any contribution made to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or any dedicated fund set up exclusively for COVID 19 to qualify as admissible CSR expenditure for businesses,” the letter said.

On March 28, the MCA announced that contributions to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES ) Fund would qualify as CSR expenditure.