UnionMinister for Home Affairs Amit Shah on Friday approved the release of Rs.11,092 crores under the State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) to allStates. The funds were released following the assurance given on Thursday byPrime Minister Narendra Modi during his video conference meeting with the ChiefMinisters.

Witha view to make available additional funds to the State Governments for takingpreventive and mitigation measures for containment of COVID-19, CentralGovernment on March 14 has already made a special dispensation for utilizationof State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

Accordingto reports, this fund was allowed to be utilized for setting up quarantinefacilities, sample collection and screening; setting up additional testinglaboratories, cost of consumables; purchase of personal protection equipmentsfor healthcare, municipal, police and fire authorities; purchase of thermal scanners,ventilators, air purifiers, and consumables for Government hospitals.