FinMin releases 1st instalment value Rs 8,873 cr of SDRF to states

The Finance Ministry on Saturday mentioned it has launched prematurely to the states the primary instalment value Rs 8,873.6 crore of the state catastrophe response fund (SDRF) for the present fiscal.
Up to 50 per cent of the quantity launched, which is Rs 4436.8 crore, can be utilized by the states for COVID-19 containment measures.
Normally, the primary instalment of SDRF is launched within the month of June as per the suggestions of the Finance Commission.
“However, 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,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.
As a particular dispensation, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, on the suggestion of Ministry of Home Affairs has launched prematurely of the traditional schedule the first instalment of the Central Share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the 12 months 2021-22 to all of the states. An quantity of Rs 8,873.6 crore has been launched to the states, it mentioned.
The funds from the SDRF could also be utilized by the states for varied measures associated to containment of COVID-19 together with assembly the price of oxygen era and storage crops in hospitals, ventilators, air purifiers, strengthening ambulance companies, COVID-19 hospitals, Covid Care Centres, consumables, thermal scanners, private protecting gear, testing laboratories, testing kits, containment zone, and so forth.