The Government of India on May 1, 2021 released the first instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to the States, in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19.
- According to the Union Home Ministry, Rs 8,873.6 crore had been released, an annual exercise usually done in June.
- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh were allocated Rs 1,288 crore, Rs 316.4 crore, Rs 125.60 crore and Rs773.2 crore, respectively.
- Since Delhi is a Union Territory, the fund is released by the Ministry and included in the Union Budget.
- The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, at the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs, released in advance of the normal schedule the first instalment of the Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2021-22 to all the States.
- Normally, the first instalment is released in June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission. However, in relaxation of the normal procedure, not only has the release of the SDRF been advanced, the amount has also been released without waiting for the utilisation certificate of the amount provided to the States in the last financial year.
- As per notification, up to 50 per cent of the amount released, i.e., Rs 4,436.8 crore can be used by the States for COVID-19 containment measures.
- The allocation to each State depends on its population and utilisation of the fund in the previous year.
- The SDRF is the primary fund available with the State governments as part of their response to notified disasters to meet expenditure on immediate relief to victims.
- The Centre contributes 75 per cent of the allocation for general category States and Union Territories and 90 per cent for special category States (northeastern, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and J&K).
