Centre disburses Rs. Rs. 8873.60 crores to states to fight Covid-19

Given the Covid-19 crisis that the country is currently facing, the central finance ministry has released Rs. 8873.60 crores towards the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in order to help the state deal with the situation.

This is the first installment of the fund that has been released in advance. Usually the first installment is paid during the month of June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission.

Of the total amount disbursed to the states, 50 percent of the amount, i.e, Rs. 4436.80 crores can be used by the states for COVID-19 containment measures.

Advance release of 1st instalment of Rs. 8873.6 crore for State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) will strengthen containment measures by the states.

Under PM @narendramodi’s leadership we are ensuring states have adequate funds.https://t.co/G9Es58aTVX@FinMinIndia

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) May 1, 2021

An official statement of the Finance Ministry read, “The funds from SDRF may be used by the States for various measures related to 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.”