State Disaster Risk Management Fund
On directions of the Prime Minister, Home Ministry approves release
of Rs 11,092 crores under State Disaster Risk Management
Fund to All States
Following the assurance given on 2 April 2020 by
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his video conference meeting with the Chief
Ministers, Union Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah has approved the release of
Rs 11,092 crores under the State Disaster Risk Management
Fund (SDRMF), to all States.
The Central Government has released in advance
its share of first installment of State Disaster Risk
Management Fund for the year 2020-21, amounting to Rs.
11,092 crores, with a view to augment funds available with the State Governments.
With a view to make available additional funds
to the State Governments for taking preventive and mitigation measures for containment
of COVID-19, Central Government on 14.03.2020 has already made a special dispensation
for utilization of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). This Fund was allowed to
be utilized for setting up quarantine facilities, sample collection and screening;
setting up additional testing laboratories, cost of consumables; purchase of personal
protection equipments for healthcare, municipal, police
and fire authorities; purchase of thermal scanners, ventilators, air purifiers,
and consumables for Government hospitals.
Central Government is sensitive to the need for
providing food and shelter to homeless people including migrant labourers, who are stranded due to lockdown measures. Accordingly
on 28.03.2020, the Central Government allowed the States Government to use SDRF
for this purpose also.
The Central Government, under the leadership of
the Prime Minister, is extending all necessary support to the States in a timely
manner to deal with an unprecedented global crisis which is declared to be a “pandemic”
by World Health Organization.