Government releases Rs 6,195.08 crore to 14 states as fourth equated monthly installment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant

The government Wednesday released Rs 6,195.08 crore to 14 states as the fourth equated monthly installment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant.

“This would provide them additional resources during the Corona crisis,” the finance ministry said in a statement.

The grant was recommended by the 15th Finance Commission, and equal installments of the grant have been issued by the Centre to states since April.

On Wednesday, the Centre released advance payments of over Rs 1,276 crore to Kerala, followed by over Rs 952 crore to Himachal Pradesh and over Rs 638 crore to Punjab. Assam received Rs 631 crore, Andhra Pradesh Rs 491 crore, Uttarakhand Rs 423 crore, and West Bengal got Rs 417 crore.

The grant will help state governments take preventive and mitigation measures for containment of the Covid-19, including setting up quarantine facilities, sample collection and screening and setting up additional testing laboratories.

Cash-strapped states can also use the funds to cover the cost of consumables, and purchase of personal protection equipment (PPE) for healthcare, municipal, police and fire authorities, besides purchase of thermal scanners, ventilators, air purifiers, and consumables for government hospitals.