Centre Releases Rs 8,873 Cr To States From SDRF As Special Dispensation In Advance Amid Covid Crisis

The first installment of the SDRF has been released in advance as it is usually released in June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission.

Representative Photo: PTI

New Delhi: The Central government has released Rs 8,873.6 crore to states in the first instalment of their share in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2021-22. The amount can be used for various measures to tackle the Covid crisis.

The Union Home Ministry stated that the Department of Expenditure, under the Ministry of Finance, has released the amount as a special dispensation in advance of the normal schedule at its recommendation.

The first installment of the SDRF has been released in advance as it is usually released in June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission.

An amount of Rs 8873.6 crore has been released to the states, an official statement revealed.

Besides the special dispensation coming in advance, it is informed that the amount has also been released without waiting for the utilisation certificate of the amount provided to the states in the last financial year.

Up to 50 per cent of the amount released i.e. Rs 4,436.8 crore can be used by the states for Covid-19 containment measures, the statement informed.

If further added that the funds from the SDRF may be used by the states for various measures related to the 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.

The special dispensation comes in at a time when Coronavirus's second wave in India continues to escalate. India recorded 401,993 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, making it the first country in the world to register over 4 lakh infections in a single day. As many as 3523 new deaths were also reported.

Meanwhile, the third phase of Covid vaccination drive officially begun in the country on Saturday but several states such as Delhi, Punjab, Karnataka, Goa and Andhra Pradesh reported that they will not be able to begin vaccinating those from 18 to 45 years yet due to the unavailability of enough doses.