Centre Trashes Media Reports, Says 50% Of COVID Funds Released In August 2021

New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday clarified that it has released 50% of ECRP-II funds by August, 2021, not 26% as claimed by a section of media.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in a release, stated that the Union Cabinet approved the India Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package – Phase-II (ECRP-II) of Rs 23,123 crore on July 8, 2021. The funds included Central share of Rs 15,000 crore and state share of Rs 8,123 crore. The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with some Central Sector (CS) components.

Following the Cabinet approval, the Centre released 15% of its share to states/UTs on July 22, 2021 to enable them to quickly undertake the preparatory activities for implementation of ECRP-II. The second instalment of funds was released soon after as advance in August, 2021.

A total amount of Rs 6075.85 crore (50% of Central share) has already been released to states/UTs through National Health Mission (NHM) by August 24, 2021. So far, expenditure of Rs 1,679.05 crore has been incurred by the 36 States/UTs under ECRP-II.

But a news channel recently claimed that the Centre has disbursed 26.14% of the ECRP-II funds to the states. The channel further claimed that the funds were disbursed by November 2021 and states have utilised 60% of the approved funds. The news report is misinformed and claims are false, misleading and based on misrepresented facts, the Ministry said.

As per the release, the Centre approved Rs 807.33 crore for Odisha. The state has utilised Rs 55.09 crore which is 12.78% of the funds and Rs 430.98 crore is available with it.

The scheme aims to prevent, detect and respond to the continuing threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national health systems for emergency response and preparedness across the country.

Under the scheme, Rs 20,308.70 crore will be spent by states out of which Rs 12,185.70 crore will be provided by the Centre and Rs 8,123 crore by the states.

The remaining funds will be released to states based on the progress and utilisation of at least 50% of the funds already released. So far, five states have reported expenditure of more than 50%.