The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : The Central government has approved an additional financial assistance of ₹1,554 crore for five states from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to aid recovery from natural calamities such as floods, flash floods, landslides, and cyclonic storms that struck these regions over the past year. The decision was made by the High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing timely disaster relief and rehabilitation.
According to an official statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the financial aid has been allocated as follows: Andhra Pradesh will receive ₹608 crore, Nagaland ₹170 crore, Odisha ₹255 crore, Telangana ₹231 crore, and Tripura ₹288 crore. This assistance aims to support states in managing the aftermath of natural disasters, restoring infrastructure, and helping affected communities rebuild their lives.
The Ministry further clarified that this additional financial assistance from the NDRF is over and above the regular allocations provided to the states through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The SDRF serves as the first line of financial support for disaster response, and the Centre has already released more than ₹18,322 crore to 27 states under the SDRF for the financial year 2024-25. Additionally, over ₹4,808 crore has been provided from the NDRF to 18 states during the same period.
The process of approving funds from the NDRF follows a structured approach. The affected states submit a memorandum detailing the extent of damage and financial requirements for relief and rehabilitation. A central team then conducts an on-ground assessment, which is reviewed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee before the final decision is made by the High-Level Committee under the Union Home Minister’s leadership.
The Centre has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting states in disaster relief and mitigation efforts. Over the years, it has taken significant steps to strengthen disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, including enhancing early warning systems, improving coordination between state and central agencies, and increasing the availability of financial resources for disaster management.
States affected by recurring natural disasters, such as Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, have seen substantial support from the central government in recent years.
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