FinMin transfers Rs 17,287 crore to states to deal with coronavirus crisis

The Centre on Friday released Rs 17,287.08 crore to states in revenue deficit grants and state disaster response mitigation fund (SDRMF) for 2020-21, to help them deal with the Covid-19 crisis. 

This comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a videoconference with chief ministers on ways to tackle the escalating number of cases in the country. The amount released by the finance ministry is a fraction of what states have been demanding, in financial support as well as clearance of pending dues. Central government officials say there is understandably a resource crunch, but more will be given.

“The Finance Ministry