Centre Releases First Installment of Rs 308 Cr Under State Disaster Response Fund(SDRF)

STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI:

SDRF Fund to Fight Corona: The Centre has released Rs 308 crore as the first instalment of SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) for the State for fiscal 2021-22.

Under normal circumstances, SDRF funds are released in the middle part of the calendar year. However, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the first instalment of SDRF money has been released early this year. The funding pattern of the SDRF is 90:10 between the Centre and the State Government.

Recently, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed the spending of up to 50 per cent of SDRF money for COVID-19 management.

The SDRF allocation for Assam in fiscal 2020-21 was Rs 858 crore. However, the allocation for Assam in fiscal 2021-22 is not yet clarified.

Sources in the State Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) Department said that the amount may either be Rs 858 crore (same as last fiscal) or 05 per cent more than Rs 858 crore.

The MHA is supposed to clear the matter shortly.

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