Issue of releasing post-disaster relief aid to the states – Rift over relief

Source: This post on issue of releasing post-disaster relief aid is created based on the article ‘Rift over relief’, published in The Hindu on 30^th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Disasters and disaster management

News: Recently a conflict between Central and Tamil Nadu government came into light. The conflict was regarding flood relief measures following heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu. In this regard, Article highlights challenges of criteria for releasing post-disaster relief aid to the states.

T.N. government has demanded ₹21,692 crore in total from the Union government, as relief fund due to disaster from Cyclone Michaung. Whereas central government has issued ₹450 crore to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and ₹500 crore for a flood mitigation project in Chennai.

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister asked for assistance, including interim relief funds and a contribution from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

What is the criterion for classification of disaster and post-disaster reliefs?

There is no provision to declare any natural disaster as a “national disaster”.

10th Finance Commission (1995-2000) provided some clarification on declaring a disaster as a “calamity of rare severity”.

A disaster can be declared a Calamity of rare severity on a case-to-case basis, considering:

1. The intensity and magnitude of the calamity
2. Level of assistance needed,
3. Capacity of the state to tackle the problem

As per the National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009, the National Crisis Management Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary deals with major crises that have serious or national ramifications.

For calamities of severe nature, inter-ministerial central teams are deputed to the affected states for assessment of damage and relief assistance required.

An inter-ministerial group, headed by the Union Home Secretary, studies the assessment and recommends the quantum of assistance from the NDRF/National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF). For example, Significant disasters, like the 2013 Uttarakhand floods and 2018 Kerala floods, were classified as severe after assessments.

What are the suggestions for reforming the criterion for disaster relief funds?

Clear guidelines: There is a need for clear guidelines for disaster relief and debates the exclusion of long-term restoration works from SDRF/NDRF funding.

Scheme funds for disaster relief: A parliamentary committee recommended in 2021 that states should be allowed to use more than the allocated 25% flexi-fund of centrally sponsored schemes for post-disaster restoration.

Relief for MSME: There is also a need for relief to micro, small, and medium enterprises, which are not covered under current norms but are significant employers in the state.

Consultation with vulnerable states: A consultation with cyclone-vulnerable states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Gujarat is required to develop new disaster management norms.

Question: Discuss the existing criteria for releasing post-disaster relief aid to states. Also, suggest some measures to reform the criterion for distribution of disaster relief funds.