Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa receives a cheque of Rs: 9.85 Crore from the transport Minister Laxman Savadi (Photo courtesy Twitter)

Bengaluru: The Chief Minister’s office in its reply to RTI activist T Narasimha Murthy’s RTI query on details of contributions the CM’s Relief fund To fight COVID 19, has said that Rs. 267,72,37,574 has been received in the fund as donations from the public.

At the start of the COVID19 crisis, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had sought generous donations from the public to the fund. The public appears to have responded well. According to the data, between March 25 and May 19, Rs: 267 crores have been made in contribution to the Relief Fund after the CM’s appeal to support the government in its fight against the COVID19 Crisis.

This is, however, in contrast to the contributions to the PM Cares Fund. At least Rs 9,677.9 crore ($1.27 billion) has been collected in the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) fund for COVID-19 relief, according to an analysis by IndiaSpend. These donations have been made in the 52 days since this new fund was announced on March 28, 2020.