Centre to states: Use SDRF funds to provide relief to farmers

The Centre today said states can use State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for providing relief to farmers in the wake of natural calamities like hailstorm.
The Central Government has also asked the states to seek assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund in case they require more funds for this purpose.
"..State Government is empowered to undertake necessary relief measures in the wake of natural calamities like drought, hailstorm, pest attack and cold wave frost from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) which is readily available with them. In case SDRF is exhausted, contingency fund of the State can be utilised," Agriculture Ministry said in a press release.

According to the release, all state governments and UT administrations have been asked to take immediate necessary steps to address the notified calamities by utilising the funds available under SDRF.
"If additional finance assistance, over and above SDRF is required, memorandum may be summited for consideration as per extant procedure/norms for assistance from National Disaster Response Fund," it added.
The statement has come in the backdrop of incessant rains and hailstorm which damaged crops in many parts of the country.