New Delhi: In a major respite to state governments in providing relief to kin of those who succumbed to Covid, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah has given assent to the release of the second instalment of Central Share of State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), as per press release.
The second instalment of the Central share would amount to Rs7,274.40 crore. In advance, relief for five states has already been released, which amount to Rs 1,599.20 crore.
The fund release is as per the Government of India's order on September 9, which revised items and norms of assistance under SDRF, making provision for grant of ex-gratia payment of kin of deceased. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had issued guidelines on September 11 in compliance with Supreme Court's order on June 30.
The press release also stated that the state governments will have a balance of Rs23,186.40 crore as part of SDRF, inclusive of the opening balance of the state in the financial year 2021-22.
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