New Delhi: The Finance Ministry of the Modi government at the Centre on Saturday said that the first instalment of the central portion of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the year 2021-22 has been released for Rs 8873.6 crore. The Ministry said that up to 50% of the amount released i.e. Rs. 4436.8 crore can be used by the States for COVID-19 prevention measures.
It also said that an amount of Rs 8873.6 crore has been released to the States on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs. State that in general, the first instalment of SDRF is released in the month of June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission. An official statement issued by the Ministry said, "The money for SDRF has been released relaxing the common process, but has also been released without waiting for the certificate of utilization of the amount given to the States in the last financial year".
State that funds received from SDRF can be utilized by the States for various corona related measures including meeting the cost of oxygen production and storage plants in hospitals, ventilators, air purifiers, strengthening of ambulance services, Corona Hospital, Covid Care Centre.
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