Centre released ₹6,195 crore fund to 14 states to fight COVID-19

The government released ₹6,195.08 crore to 14 states as the second equated monthly instalment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant as recommended by the Finance Commission.

The grant was recommended by the 15th Finance Commission (XVFC), and an equal first installment of the grant was issued by the Centre to states on 14 March.

The Centre released advance payments of over ₹1,276 crore to Kerala state, around ₹952 crore to Himachal Pradesh and over ₹638 crore to Punjab. Assam was given a fund of ₹631 crore, Andhra Pradesh received ₹491 crore, Uttarakhand received ₹423 crore, and West Bengal got ₹417 crore.

The grant will help state governments to take preventive and mitigation measures for containment of the COVID-19.

The states are asked to set up quarantine facilities, sample collection, and screening, and setting up additional testing laboratories.

The fund can be used to cover the cost of consumables, and purchase of personal protection equipment (PPE) for healthcare, municipal, police, and fire authorities. Also, it will be used for the purchase of thermal scanners, ventilators, air purifiers, and consumables for government hospitals.