States get ₹11,092 crore for COVID-19

04/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday approved the release of ₹11,092 crore under the State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) to all the States to take measures for containment of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funds were allocated to the States on the recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot suggested to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday that the Centre release ₹1 lakh crore to tackle the pandemic and the ramifications of the 21-day nationwide lockdown.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s videoconference with Chief Ministers, “the Central Government has released in advance its share of the first instalment of SDRMF for the year 2020-21, amounting to ₹11,092 crore, to augment funds available with the State governments,” a statement by the MHA said.

Maharahstra which has reported the highest number of cases has been allocated ₹1611 crore. Kerala with a higher number of cases, however, has been allocated ₹157 crore, lower than most States, including Uttar Pradesh which gets ₹966 crore, Odisha ₹802 crore, Rajasthan ₹740 crore, Bihar ₹708 crore, Gujarat ₹662 crore and Madhya Pradesh ₹910 crore.

The SDRF is the primary fund available with the States to meet the expenditure of immediate relief to the victims of disasters.