**Executive Summary**
This document provides a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2667, concerning NDRF and SDRF funds for West Bengal. The response clarifies fund allocation, utilization, and the establishment of a regional response center. The question was scheduled to be answered on December 16, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Fund Allocation and Utilization:**
* The primary responsibility for disaster management rests with State Governments, supplemented by financial assistance from SDRF and NDRF.
* No district/region-wise fund allocation is made under SDRF. Relief assistance to affected people is provided by the State Government from SDRF.
* Central share of SDRF is released in two equal installments (June and December), subject to fulfillment of guidelines.
* Financial assistance is for relief, not compensation of loss.
* **Funds Released to West Bengal (2019-20 to 2025-26)**
* Table shows the allocation under SDRF, center's share released of SDRF, and the released from NDRF in crore (INR) for each year.
* Additionally, Rs. 84.77 crore was released from NDRF for expansion and modernization of fire services.
* **Responsibilities and Monitoring:**
* The State Government ensures funds drawn from SDRF/NDRF are utilized for intended purposes as per approved norms.
* The State Accountant General monitors expenditure.
* The Comptroller and Auditor General of India audits SDRF annually.
* **NDRF Base:**
* NDRF has established a permanent Regional Response Centre (RRC) at Siliguri for rapid deployment in North Bengal, including Darjeeling.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Government of West Bengal**
* **Impact:** The State Government is responsible for managing disaster response and providing relief. They receive financial assistance from the Central Government (SDRF/NDRF).
* **Action Required:** Ensure proper utilization of funds, adherence to guidelines, and transparent reporting of expenditures.
**Stakeholder: Affected Citizens of West Bengal**
* **Impact:** Citizens are the beneficiaries of the relief provided through SDRF and NDRF in the event of natural disasters.
* **Action Required:** N/A
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Home Affairs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing financial assistance and monitoring expenditure.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with established procedures and guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): A fund established by the Indian government to provide financial assistance for disaster management.
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF): A fund established by state governments in India to provide financial assistance for disaster management at the state level.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The primary ministry responsible for internal security and disaster management in India.
West Bengal: Indian state receiving funds from NDRF and SDRF as part of the policy.
National Disaster Management Policy: A policy that outlines the framework for disaster management in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2667
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16TH DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 25, 1947
(SAKA)
NDRF AND SDRF FUNDS FOR WEST BENGAL
2667. SHRI RAJU BISTA:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the total funds allocated, released and utilized under the National Disaster
Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in West
Bengal since 2019, district-wise;
(b) the details of funds specifically allocated and utilized for disaster
response and preparedness in the districts of North Bengal during the same
period;
(c) whether the Government has received any proposal for establishment of
a permanent NDRF base or regional response centre in Darjeeling or Siliguri;
(d) if so, the details and the current status of such proposal, along with the
estimated cost and timeline for implementation;
(e) whether there has been any delay or shortfall in release or utilization of
funds under NDRF or SDRF for North Bengal and if so, the reasons therefor;
and
(f) the steps taken by the Government to ensure effective implementation and
monitoring of disaster response infrastructure in the region?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2667 FOR 16.12.2025
(a) to (f): As per the National Disaster Management Policy, the primary
responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Governments
concerned. For supplementing the efforts of the State Government, financial
assistance is provided from the existing scheme of State Disaster Response
Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) in accordance with
the established procedure.
No district/ region-wise funds allocation is made under SDRF. However, it is
for the State Government concerned to provide necessary relief assistance
to affected people from SDRF already placed at its disposal in accordance
with Government of India approved items & norms, in the event of a natural
disaster through their established channel of district administrative
machineries in accordance with the magnitude of the ground situation. The
entire exercise requires adhering to the established procedure envisaged in
the NDRF/ SDRF guidelines, which is accessible on the Ministry’s website:
www.ndmindia.mha.gov.in. The Central share of SDRF is released in two
equal instalments, first in June and the second in December subject to
fulfillment of conditions of the guidelines including information relating to
crediting of earlier released funds and statement of expenditure. Financial
assistance in the event of natural disasters is by way of relief and not for
compensation of loss claimed.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2667 FOR 16.12.2025
In order to supplement the efforts of State, the Central Government had
released the following funds from SDRF/ NDRF to the State Government of
West Bengal for management of relief necessitated by notified natural
disasters during 2019-20 to 2025-26 are given as under:
(Rs. in crore)
Year Allocation Centre’s share Released
under SDRF of SDRF from NDRF
released
2019-20 628.00 650.40 958.33
2020-21 1078.40 808.80 2250.28
2021-22 1078.40 808.80 350.13
2022-23 1132.80 849.60 0.00
2023-24 1189.60 892.00 0.00
2024-25 # 1248.00 936.00 0.00
2025-26 1311.20 491.60 0.00
(as on
09.12.2025
)
# In addition, an amount of Rs. 84.77 crore released from NDRF for expansion
and modernization of fire services in the State.
As per the scheme of SDRF/ NDRF, the State Government is responsible to
ensure that money drawn from the SDRF (including central assistance from
NDRF) is actually utilized for the purposes for which it was released, only on
specified items of expenditure and as per norms approved by the Government-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2667 FOR 16.12.2025
of India. State Accountant General is required to monitor the expenditure as
per the items and norms of assistance. The Comptroller and Auditor General
of India causes audit of SDRF every year in terms of the scheme of the SDRF.
With regard to establishment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
base, it is informed that NDRF has established a permanent Regional
Response Centre (RRC) at Siliguri where adequate teams are placed
permanently for rapid deployment in North Bengal including Darjeeling, as per
operational needs.
*****