In the wake of natural disasters, states often request assistance from the central government. Himachal Pradesh CM recently requested a special disaster relief package and urged the designation of the calamity as a ‘national disaster.’
Natural Disaster Mitigation in States
- Legal Framework: The 2005 Disaster Management Act establishes the rules for handling both natural and man-made disasters.
- It defines a “disaster” as an occurrence that results in a significant loss of life, human suffering, property damage, or environmental degradation that exceeds the community’s capacity to cope.
- The Act established the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), led by Chief Ministers, as well as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which is presided over by the Prime Minister. In India, a comprehensive system of disaster management is comprised of several organizations and district-level agencies.
- The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which consists of multiple battalions or teams in charge of on-the-ground relief and rescue operations in different states, was established as a result of the Act.
Understanding the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF)
- The 2005 Disaster Management Act makes reference to the NDRF, which is important to providing disaster aid and is mentioned in the Act.
- State Disaster Relief Funds (SDRFs): Each state has its own SDRF, which serves as the main source of funding for disaster response. In general states and northeastern and Himalayan states, the Central Government provides 75% and 90%, respectively, to SDRFs.
- Utilization of SDRFs: Following notification of calamities such as hurricanes, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, and more, SDRFs are allotted for emergency relief operations. • Central help: The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) may offer additional central help in cases of severe disasters where state SDRF funds are insufficient.
Who determines a Severe Calamity?
- Procedure: States follow a particular process to designate a disaster as “severe.” This entails sending a document outlining sector-specific harm and funding needs. On-site damage assessment is performed by an interministerial central team.
- Specific committees analyze these evaluations and provide reports for committee approval. The immediate relief amount that will be provided by the NDRF requires approval from a high-level committee.
- Criteria: A calamity is categorized as “severe” based on a number of variables, including its intensity, scope, aid requirements, and more.
Additional Funds for Disaster Mitigation
- Allocation of Funds: Budgetary allocations include funds for NDRF and SDRFs that are designated for readiness, mitigation, and reconstruction.
- The 15th Finance Commission introduced a new system for allocating funds on a state-by-state basis that takes into account elements like prior spending, risk exposure, hazard, and vulnerability.
- Utilization: Funds from the NDRF and SDRF are distributed in two equal instalments, usually with conditions such as Utilization Certificates. However, these conditions may be waived in cases of extreme urgency.
- State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF): This fund promotes initiatives including public education and forest restoration. The 15th Finance Commission provided an allocation of Rs 32,030 crore for it.
- The Rs 13,693 crore National Catastrophe Mitigation Fund (NDMF) is devoted to national catastrophe mitigation operations.
