NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday proposed some changes in the functioning of the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. A PMO release said Modi had suggested several qualitative changes in the manner in which the fund is managed, during a review meeting held here.
“Referring to the Gujarat model, the PM directed that the selection of beneficiaries should be done in a more comprehensive, scientific and humanitarian basis, giving priority to children, the poor and cases from government hospitals,” the release said.
Life-threatening diseases should be accorded priority and cases should be decided on need and merit, the PM told the officials.
Modi also directed that pendency in appeals for help should be minimised and said the draw to select the cases should be conducted in a manner that does not leave out any genuine case.
It was also decided that a letter from the Prime Minister should be sent to all the beneficiaries. Beneficiaries, whose appeals have been approved for grant of relief, will be informed through an SMS alert. Modi also reviewed the functioning of the other P M’s funds, such as the PM’s discretionary fund.