States can use 50% of SDRF to fight Covid

New Delhi, September 24

The Centre today issued a formal order allowing the states to spend up to 50 per cent money from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to boost infrastructure such as quarantine facilities, testing labs, oxygen generation plants and purchase of ventilators and PPE kits in their bid to effectively tackle Covid-19.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the order after PM Narendra Modi told the CMs of the seven worst-affected states on Wednesday that his government had increased the states’ limit to spend the SDRF to boost infrastructure to fight the pandemic.

Communicating the order to the chief secretaries of all states and UTs, the MHA said it had partially modified the list of items and norms of assistance for containment measures of Covid-19, eligible from SDRF by way of special one-time dispensation with the overall capping of 50 per cent for financial year 2020-21. — TNS