An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.

What is PM National Relief Fund?

• The Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was established in January 1948 with public contributions to assist displaced persons from Pakistan. 

• The resources of the PMNRF are now utilised primarily to render immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc and to the victims of the major accidents and riots. 

• Assistance from PMNRF is also rendered, to partially defray the expenses for medical treatment like heart surgeries, kidney transplantation, cancer treatment and acid attack, etc. 

• The fund consists entirely of public contributions and does not get any budgetary support. 

• The corpus of the fund is invested in various forms with scheduled commercial banks and other agencies. 

• Disbursements are made with the approval of the Prime Minister. 

• PMNRF has not been constituted by the Parliament. 

• The fund is recognised as a Trust under the Income Tax Act and the same is managed by the Prime Minister or multiple delegates for national causes. 

• The Prime Minister is the chairman of PMNRF and is assisted by officers/staff on an honorary basis. 

• PMNRF operates from the Prime Minister’s Office.

• The disbursement out of the fund is made at the discretion of the Prime Minister, and in accordance with the Prime Minister's directions.

• PMNRF is exempt under Income Tax Act, 1961 under Section 10 and 139 for return purposes. Contributions towards PMNRF are notified for 100 per cent deduction from taxable income under section 80(G) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 

• PMNRF accepts only voluntary donations by individuals and institutions.

• Contributions flowing out of budgetary sources of government or from the balance sheets of the public sector undertakings are not accepted.

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