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National Disaster Response Fund

National Disaster Response Fund

As per recommendation by the Thirteenth Finance Commission (TFC), the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has approved for the provision of a fund to set up a National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). The NDRF is managed by the Government of India to enhance the State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) and meet the expenses of rescue and relief operations during the man-made and natural calamities. The calamities include cyclone, drought, earthquake, tsunami, fire, flood, hailstorm, thunder attack, pest attack, landslide, avalanche and cloudburst.

Objective of NDRF

The purpose of the NDRF is as follows:

• To extend its support to affected States and Union Territories during severe natural and man-made calamities
• To supplement the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)
• To address the problem of disaster response and management at both state and national level
• To carry out organisational arrangements such as scheduling, capacity building, monitoring and rehabilitation activities

Grant Allotted under NDRF

• The already existing National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) is merged into the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Hence, the closing balance of NCCF’s current financial year is considered as the opening balance of the NDRF.
• The Central Government allocates 75% relief fund for the General Category States and 90% for the North-Eastern and other hilly States.
• Generally, the initial relief expenses are borne by the SDRF and the NDRF supplements the States in case of severe calamities.

Scope of Coverage

In case of non-availability of the fund in SDRF, the state should request the Ministry of Home Affairs for the additional assistance under NDRF, and the Ministry provides assistance to the affected states for the following categories:

• To carry out the search and rescue operations in the affected areas.
• To provide relief to the families whose livelihood are severely affected.
• To provide temporary accommodation, food, medical care and other necessities for the affected people who are evacuated and sheltered in the relief camps set up by the Central Rescue Teams.
• To cover the loss of life of people and personnel involved in the rescue operations and cover the loss of any other injuries or disabilities caused during the calamity.
• For airdropping basic supplies in the affected areas.
• To clear all the infected areas by removing the debris in the public places, draining off floodwater and clearing up all the other damages caused during the natural calamities.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs, under the evaluation and request of Ministry of Agriculture, provides assistance to the farmers having lands up to 2 hectares to desilt the debris befallen due to the landslide, avalanche, flood etc.
• The input subsidy is allocated to the farmers to incur the crop losses of 33% and above.
• The assistance is provided to replace the affected milk animals such as cow, buffaloes, camel, sheep and goat and haul animals such as horse, donkey, ox and bullock, and poultries.
• To provide food, water, medicines and other basic amenities for the animals lodged in the relief camps for the cattle.
• A separate assistance is provided to support the fishermen for repairing/replacing their damaged boats, nets and fish seed farms.
• Handicrafts artisans are supported with the relief fund to cover the cost of their damaged goods, tools, raw materials and other finished products.
• The assistance is provided to repair/replace the damaged houses and restore the infrastructure such as roads, bridges, drinking water supply, electric supply, schools, primary health centres and telecommunication services.

Monitoring Committee

The Department of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs has set up a High-Level Committee (HLC) to assess and allocate the relief fund under NDRF, and the committee comprises of:

• Finance Minister
• Agriculture Minister
• Home Minister
• Deputy Chairman and
• Planning Commission as its members

Operational Procedure

The Ministry of Home Affairs carries out the following procedure to disburse the relief fund to the SDRF:

• A notice from the State Government is assessed and examined to check if the request suits the norms and assistance of expenses listed under the SDRF/NDRF.
• In case of adequate funds in the SDRF, the HLC offers its advisory guidelines to carry out the rescue and relief operations with the available funds.
• In case of an inadequate fund with SDRF, the HLC dispatches the Central Team to assess the situation of the affected areas and a report is to be submitted to the National Executive Committee (NEC), constituted under the Section 8 of Disaster Management Act 2005.
• The NEC evaluates the report to assess the extent of assistance that can be allocated under the NDRF and make recommendations.
• The HLC, depending upon the recommendations of NEC, approves and releases the quantum of relief amount from NDRF to carry out the rescue and relief operations in the affected states.
• The State Executive Committee established by the State Government under Section 20 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 is the responsible body to acquire and manage the relief fund from the NDRF.

Maintenance of Funds

• The Controller General of Accounts maintains the brief account of the National Disaster Response Fund through the Chief Controller of Accounts, Ministry of Finance.
• The NDRF accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General every year.
• The State Government should present the copy of the audit report of CAG to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Finance on demand.