The Centre has released Rs 8873.6 crore to the states as the first instalment of the Central Share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the year 2021-22, the Ministry of Finance said on Saturday.
According to the Ministry, the states can use up to Rs 4,436.8 crore– 50 per cent of the total amount released– for COVID-19 containment measures.
Normally, the first instalment of SDRF is released in June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission. However, in relaxation of normal procedure, not only has the release of SDRF been advanced but the amount has also been released without waiting for the utilization certificate of the amount provided to the states in the last financial year, the Ministry’s statement said.
The funds from SDRF may be used by the States for various measures related to containment of COVID-19 including meeting the cost of oxygen generation and storage plants in hospitals, ventilators, air purifiers, strengthening ambulance services, COVID-19 hospitals, Covid Care Centres, consumables, thermal scanners, personal protective equipment, testing laboratories, testing kits, containment zone, etc, it added.
