Executive Summary:
This document presents the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3759 regarding relief assistance provided to states for natural calamities, specifically floods and cyclones, over the past three years. It details the financial support mechanisms available through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). The response also addresses queries regarding West Bengal's relief assistance, damages, and pending requests. The period covered is primarily 2022-23 to 2024-25.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Disaster Management Responsibility:**
* State Governments bear the primary responsibility for managing disasters, including damage assessment and relief distribution, utilizing the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
* The Central Government supplements State efforts with logistics and financial support from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
* **Financial Assistance Mechanism:**
* SDRF funds are readily available to States for immediate relief measures.
* Additional NDRF assistance is provided for disasters of severe nature, following an assessment that includes an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visit.
* Since August 19, 2019, IMCTs are deployed immediately after severe calamities, without waiting for a State memorandum.
* Financial assistance from SDRF and NDRF is for relief, not compensation.
* Annexure provides state-wise details of funds released under SDRF and NDRF from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
* **West Bengal Specific Information:**
* The Ministry of Home Affairs does not centrally maintain data on disaster-related damages.
* The Government of West Bengal has not provided information on damages from natural calamities over the last three years, despite requests.
* There are no pending compensation or assistance requests from West Bengal.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
* Impact: They are primarily responsible for disaster management and damage assessment. They receive financial assistance from the Union Government through SDRF and NDRF.
* Action Required: Utilize SDRF funds for immediate relief, furnish damage reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs when requested, and follow established procedures for requesting additional NDRF assistance.
Ministry of Home Affairs:
* Impact: It supplements the efforts of the State Governments by providing requisite logistics and financial support.
* Action Required: Continue to disburse funds under SDRF and NDRF as per laid down procedures, including timely deployment of IMCTs for assessment of severe calamities.
Citizens Affected by Natural Calamities:
* Impact: They are the ultimate beneficiaries of the relief assistance provided by the State Governments, supplemented by Central Government support.
* Action Required: None specified in the document, but indirectly, they should be aware of the relief measures available and engage with their State Governments for support.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Union Government ministry responsible for internal security and disaster management.
National Policy on Disaster Management NPDM: A national policy that outlines the framework for disaster management in India.
State Disaster Response Fund SDRF: A fund available to State Governments for immediate relief measures in the wake of natural calamities.
National Disaster Response Fund NDRF: A central government fund used to supplement state resources for disaster relief in cases of severe calamities.
Inter-Ministerial Central Team IMCT: A team deputed by the Central Government to assess the extent of damage caused by a severe natural calamity.
West Bengal: A state in India that is the focus of specific questions regarding relief assistance for natural calamities.
SHRI NITYANAND RAI: Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs answering the questions.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, listed in the Annexure regarding fund releases under SDRF and NDRF.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3759
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025/ SRAVANA 21, 1947 (SAKA)
RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO STATES
3759. SHRI BAPI HALDAR:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the relief assistance provided by the Union Government
to various States in response to natural calamities such as floods or
cyclones during the last three years, State-wise including the State of
West Bengal;
(b) the details of damages due to natural calamities in the State of West
Bengal during the last three years;
(c) whether there are any pending compensation or assistance requests
from West Bengal for any recent natural calamities; and
(d) if so, the reasons for such pendency and the time by which the State
is expected to get the remaining funds?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a): As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the
primary responsibility for disaster management, including assessment of
damages due to any calamity and disbursal of relief assistance on ground
level, rests with the State Governments concerned. The State
Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural calamities,
from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3759 FOR 12.08.2025
disposal, in accordance with Government of India approved items and
norms. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State
Governments and provides requisite logistics and financial
support. Additional financial assistance is provided from National
Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in case of
disaster of ‘severe nature’, which includes an assessment based on the
visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT). In order to expedite the
assessment and release of additional financial assistance to States,
Government of India took a significant decision on 19.08.2019 to depute
IMCT immediately in the aftermath of any natural calamity of severe
nature, and without waiting for the memorandum from the State
Government. The financial assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is
by way of relief and not for compensation. The details of funds provided to
the states, including West Bengal under SDRF/NDRF is at Annexure.
(b): The Ministry does not centrally maintain the data of damages due
to any disasters. The information on damages due to natural calamities
in the state during the last three years has not been furnished by the
Government of West Bengal, despite official request by the Ministry.
(c): No.
(d): Does not arise.
*****ANNEXURE
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3759 FOR 12.08.2025
Statement showing State-wise details of releases of funds under State Disaster
Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) during the years
2022-23 TO 2024-25
(Rs. in crore)
Sr State Centre’s Share of SDRF Released Release from NDRF (For all
No. calamities including flood/cyclones)
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
1. Andhra Pradesh 940.00 987.20 1036.00 -- -- 56.90
2. Arunachal Pradesh 210.40 220.80 115.60 -- -- --
3. Assam 648.80 680.80 716.00 250.00 -- 29.02
4. Bihar 1189.60 1248.80 1311.20 -- -- --
5. Chhattisgarh 181.60 181.60# 380.80# -- -- 33.24
6. Goa 9.60 9.60 10.40 -- -- 31.50
7. Gujarat 556.00 1140.00# 600.00# -- -- --
8. Haryana 412.80 433.60 455.20 -- -- --
9. Himachal Pradesh 342.40 360.80 378.40 214.26 787.25 84.56
10. Jharkhand -- 476.80# 1027.20# -- -- --
11. Karnataka 664.00 697.60 732.00 939.83 -- 3528.45
12. Kerala 264.00 277.60 291.20 -- -- --
13. Madhya Pradesh 1528.80 1605.60 1686.40 -- -- --
14. Maharashtra 2706.40 2841.60 2984.00 -- -- --
15. Manipur 35.20 18.80 50.00 -- -- 12.15
16. Meghalaya 27.20 27.20# 59.60 -- -- 11.98
17. Mizoram 39.20 41.60 43.20 -- -- 18.36
18. Nagaland 34.40 36.80 38.40 107.31 -- 181.81
19. Odisha 1348.00 1415.20 1485.60 -- -- 45.09
20. Punjab 416.00 436.80 458.40 -- -- 29.60
21. Rajasthan 1244.80 1307.20 1372.00 13.46 -- --
22. Sikkim 42.40 44.80 47.20 -- 81.89 229.82
23. Tamil Nadu 856.80 900.00 944.80 -- -- 360.09
24. Telangana 188.80 584.80# 416.80 -- -- 42.78
25. Tripura 56.80 60.80 71.60 -- -- 186.40
26. Uttar Pradesh 812.00 1664.80# 1748.40# -- -- 172.95
27. Uttarakhand 787.20 826.40 434.00 -- -- 21.30
28. West Bengal 849.60 892.00 936.00 -- -- 84.77
Total
16392.80 19419.60 19830.40 1524.86 869.14 5160.77
#Including arrears of SDRF for the previous year.