The Centre has enhanced its contribution in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) from 75% to 90% with effect from April 1, the Union Home Ministry announced on Thursday. Kerala, which has recently faced the worst floods, will be a major beneficiary of the Centre’s decision. Henceforth all States will be required to contribute 10% to the SDRF.
The additional contribution by the Central government in SDRF on this account will be ₹1,690.35 crore for 2018-19 and ₹1,774.67 crore for the financial year 2019-20, a Home Ministry statement said.
Under the Disaster Management Act 2005, a financial mechanism has been set up by way of National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) at national level and SDRF at the State level to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disasters.
The SDRF has been constituted in each State in which the Centre, so far, had been contributing 75% for the general category states and 90% for special category States of hilly regions every year, the statement said.
The SDRF is a resource available to the States to meet the expenses of relief operations of immediate nature, for a range of specified disasters. At any point, the state government has fair amount of funds available under the SDRF.
Annual allocations
Based on the recommendations of successive Finance Commission, the central government approves the annual allocation to SDRF. On the recommendations of 14th Finance Commission, the government has significantly enhanced the allocation to SDRF by 82.30% i.e. from ₹33,580.93 crore during 2010-11 to 2014-15 to ₹61,220 crore for 2015-16 to 2019-20.
In addition, the central government has provided additional financial assistance of ₹ 32,142 crore from NDRF to the States during 2014-2018 compared to ₹14,098 crore provided during 2010-2014, which is also significantly higher, the statement said.
