Lok Sabha Question No. 262 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: Management of SDRF
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ravneet Singh, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Kapil Moreshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 262

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  JULY, 2021/ ASHADHA 29, 1943 (SAKA)

MANAGEMENT OF SDRF

262.     SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  funds  released  to  different  States  in  the  country  from  the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to deal with the second and a probable third wave of coronavirus;
- (b) whether the States have been allowed to use 50 percent of the amount released for cost of oxygen generation and storage plants in the hospitals, ventilators, COVID-19 hospitals etc.;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  reasons  for  imposing  these ceiling on these expenditure;
- (d)  whether  the  50  percent  ceiling  so  imposed  is  adequate  for  States  to manage the probable third wave of COVID-19; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (e): State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is administered as per the recommendations  of  the  successive  Finance  Commissions  set  up  under the  Article  280  of  the  Constitution  of  India.    Financial  assistance  is provided to State Government from SDRF as per the established procedure,  for  meeting  the  expenditure  on  relief  provided  to  people affected by any of the 12 notified disasters.

## L.S.US.Q.NO.262 FOR 20.07.2021

However,  keeping  in  view  the  spread  of  COVID-19  in  the  country,  and declaration  of  COVID-19  as  pandemic  by  the  World  Health  Organization (WHO), the Central Government vide letter dated 14 th  March 2020, by way of a special one-time dispensation, decided to treat COVID-19 as a notified disaster  for  the  purpose  of  providing  limited  assistance  under  SDRF towards  containment  measures,  on  (i)  Measures  for  quarantine,  sample collection  and  screening  and  (ii)  Procurement  of  essential  equipments/ labs  for  response  to  COVID-19.  Further  to  deal  with  problems  of  migrant labourers,  on  28 th   March,  2020,  the  Central  Government  allowed  use  of SDRF for setting up relief camps and for providing food etc. to homeless people including migrant workers, stranded due to lockdown measures. On 23 rd  September, 2020, the Central Government further allowed use of SDRF by  the  States  for  oxygen  generation  and  storage  plants  in  hospitals; strengthening ambulance services for transport of patients; and setting up containment zones, COVID-19 care centres.

For  the  containment  measures  allowed  under  SDRF,  State  Governments were allowed to spend upto 35% of the annual allocation of SDRF during the  financial  year  2019-20.    The  ceiling  of  35%  was  further  enhanced  to 50% during the financial year 2020-21.   Further, keeping in view the surge

## L.S.US.Q.NO.262 FOR 20.07.2021

in  COVID-19  cases  in  the  country,  the  Central  Government,  further extended the dispensation allowed to States to utilize upto 50% of their annual allocation of SDRF, for containment measures of COVID-19 during the financial year, 2021-22.

First  installment  of  Central  share  of  SDRF  for  2021-22  amounting  to  Rs. 8873.60  crore  has  been  released  in  advance  to  all  States  on  29 th  April, 2021.

The  limit  of  expenditure  upto  50%  of  SDRF  allocation  for  COVID-19 containment measures is fixed to ensure that sufficient funds are available with the State Governments to provide relief measures during any notified disasters, for which this statutory fund has been established.  The regular funding to deal with COVID-19 has been and continues to be provided to States under the National Health Mission, while assistance from SDRF is allowed to supplement the resources of the State Governments.

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