COVID-19: Centre releases Rs 8873 cr advance for State disaster relief
By TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, MAY 01, 2021: THE government on Saturday released Rs. 8873.6 crore as the first instalment of the Centre's share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2021-22 to help in COVID-19 management.
Normally, the first instalment of SDRF is released in June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission.
"In relaxation of normal procedure, not only has the release of SDRF been advanced, the amount has also been released without waiting for the utilisation certificate of the amount provided to the States in the last financial year," said the Finance Ministry.
Up to 50 per cent of the released amount, Rs. 4436.8 crore can be used by the States for COVID-19 containment measures.
The fundsmay be used by the States to meet 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, and maintaining containment zones.
The special dispensation by the Department of Expenditure was made at the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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