Centre releases SDRF instalment in advance due to COVID-19 surge
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The Centre has launched the primary instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to States, in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19 that has claimed hundreds of lives since April.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in an announcement, mentioned ₹8,873.6 crore had been launched to the States, an annual train that’s often accomplished in June.
“As a special dispensation, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, at the recommendation of Ministry of Home Affairs, has released in advance of the normal schedule the first instalment of the Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the year 2021-22 to all the States,” the MHA mentioned.
“Normally, the first instalment of SDRF is released in the month of June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission. However, in relaxation of the normal procedure, not only has the release of SDRF been advanced, the amount has also been released without waiting for the utilization certificate of the amount provided to the States in the last financial year. Up to 50% of the amount released, i.e., ₹4,436.8 crore can be used by the States for COVID-19 containment measures,” it mentioned.
The MHA mentioned the funds from SDRF could also be utilized by the States for bills comparable to assembly the price of oxygen technology and storage vegetation in hospitals, ventilators, air purifiers, strengthening ambulance companies, COVID-19 hospitals, Covid Care Centres, consumables, thermal scanners, private protecting tools, testing laboratories, testing kits and containment zones, amongst others.
SDRF is the first fund out there with State governments as a part of their response to notified disasters to meet expenditure on offering quick aid to victims. The Centre contributes 75% of SDRF allocation for basic class States and Union Territories and 90% for particular class States (Northeast States, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir).
In an order issued on March 14, 2020, the MHA mentioned that it has determined to deal with COVID-19 as a “notified disaster” for the aim of offering help underneath the SDRF.
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