Chief Minister’s Relief Fund – An Effective Social Welfare Scheme

The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is an effective social welfare scheme of the state government aimed at providing timely assistance to economically weaker, seriously ill, and disaster-affected citizens. The primary objective of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is to provide immediate assistance to disaster-affected individuals in Maharashtra as well as throughout the country. Aid is provided through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to citizens affected by major natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and fire-related accidents, as well as to economically weaker sections of society for treatment of incurable diseases.

The fund is utilized to assist individuals affected by natural disasters both in the state and the rest of the country. This includes providing financial or other assistance to the heirs of deceased individuals in communal riots and to those who have suffered injuries and/or property damage. Financial or other assistance is also provided to the heirs of individuals who died or were injured in terrorist attacks. Furthermore, financial or other help is provided for patients needing treatment and/or surgery.

In cases where a family member has died due to an accident (excluding motor/rail/air/ship accidents), financial or other aid is provided to their heirs. Various institutions that require financial or other forms of assistance are also supported. Financial or other assistance is provided for organizing educational, social, and cultural seminars and conferences. Partial financial or other aid is granted for the construction of buildings for educational and medical institutions.

While the primary purpose of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is to provide financial assistance to disaster-affected individuals, funds are also allocated for various other matters beyond natural disasters.

Assistance is provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for various projects aimed at the rehabilitation of citizens affected by natural disasters (such as excessive rainfall, floods, and earthquakes) in the state and across the country.

In cases of communal riots and bomb blasts, additional support can be provided if the Chief Minister shows goodwill for financial assistance, beyond what is regularly provided under government schemes, to help affected individuals access financial aid through relevant district authorities.

If the main breadwinner of a family dies in an accident and there is no insurance protection or financial aid received from the government or other government schemes, financial assistance is provided in these cases as well. In such instances, a detailed report, along with recommendations from the relevant District Collector, is submitted for financial assistance after obtaining necessary documents such as police reports (FIR), post-mortem reports, and death certificates. The financial assistance is sent to the relevant district collector to ensure proper distribution, and assistance will not be provided directly to the recipients.

Additionally, if there is financial loss due to damages, compensation ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹20,000 is provided based on the assessment. Before approving such financial assistance, documentation including a clear report from the District Collector, an assessed damage report from the revenue officer, and details of the affected person’s financial status are obtained.

Moreover, partial financial assistance is provided for economically disadvantaged and needy patients in the state who require medical surgeries/treatments. For this, the following documents are required:

– Medical expense certificate (if expenses exceed ₹1 lakh at a private hospital, certification from the superintendent of the government hospital/district surgeon is required).

– Certification mentioning the patient does not receive benefits under the Rajiv Gandhi Life-Affirming Health Scheme.

– Ration card/residential certificate/Aadhaar card number from Maharashtra.

– Income certificate certified by the talathi stating the total income for the previous financial year is less than ₹1 lakh.

– Registered mobile number.

– Recommendation letter from a legislator/Member of Parliament.

– Details for the hospital, including bank account number, the name of the bank where the hospital has its account, IFSC code number, and hospital email.

– This assistance will be provided once every three years to each patient. After fulfilling the above requirements, partial financial assistance is provided accordingly.

Donations can also be made to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Contributions deposited under this fund are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80(G) of the Income Tax Act.

Contributions can be made to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as follows:

Donations can be sent via postal order/money order, check, or demand draft to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund at the Chief Minister’s Office, Secretariat, Mumbai, or can be paid online at https://cmrf.maharashtra.gov.in. Additionally, donations can be transferred via RTGS or NEFT from the respective bank/branch, mentioning donor details, to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund SBI Collection Branch account.

Name and Address of the Nodal Bank Branch

– Fund Name: Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (Main Account)

– Bank Name: State Bank of India

– Account Number: 10972433751

– IFSC Code: SBIN0000300

The government of Maharashtra’s initiative ensures that healthcare reaches the general population, providing thousands of needy individuals with new hope. This successful initiative is in the public interest.

Compilation by: District Information Office, Sangli

Information Source: Chief Minister’s Relief Fund Website