Lok Sabha Question No. 3423 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-01
Subject: Financial Assistance for Calamity Relief
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3423

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 01 ST  JANUARY, 2019/ PAUSHA 11, 1940 (SAKA)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CALAMITY RELIEF

3423.     SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA: KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  State  Government  of  Karnataka  had  sought  financial aid from the Union Government for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the areas destroyed by the recent unprecedented  floods in Karnataka, especially in the Southern and Coastal districts, including Kodagu;

(b) if so, the details of funds for flood relief requested by the State;

(c) whether the Government has made arrangement to disburse the aid and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  certain  States,  including  Karnataka,  have  requested  for enhancement of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) allocation and if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  action  for  enhancing  the  SDRF allocation to the States and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)  to (c):  The  primary  responsibility  of  disaster  management  rests  with the  State  Government.  To  supplement  the  efforts  of  the  State,  the Government  of  India  extends  logistic  and  financial  support  to  them  to assist the rescue and relief efforts in the event of a disaster.  Government of   India   also  provides  financial  assistance  to  the affected States from

## L.S.US.Q.NO.3423 FOR 01.01.2019

State  Disaster  Response  Fund  (SDRF)  and  National    Disaster    Response Fund (NDRF) as per laid down procedure for 'immediate relief'. Distribution/ disbursement  of  aid  on the  ground is the responsibility of the State Government through the district administrative machinery.   With regard  to  rehabilitation  and  reconstruction  measures,  this  has  to  be undertaken by the concerned State Governments from their own resources/ Plan  funds,  and    based  upon  their  existing  policies,  since  execution  of rehabilitation measures on the ground is the responsibility of the concerned State.

In  the  instant  case,  the  Government  of  Karnataka  had  submitted  a memorandum seeking financial assistance of Rs. 576.86 crore for flood and landslides  relief  measures.    Inter-Ministerial  Central  Team  (IMCT)  visited the State including district Kodagu.  Based upon the report of IMCT, the High  Level  Committee  (HLC),  in  its  meeting  held  on  19.11.2018  has approved  the  assistance  of  Rs.  546.21  crore  from  NDRF  for  floods  and landslides of 2018.

In  order  to  support  the  affected  people  of  the  State  Government  of Karnataka, the Government of India (GOI) has released 1 st  installment of Central Share of SDRF amounting to Rs. 144 crore besides the Rs. 525.22 crore, released from NDRF  to Government of Karnataka for relief measures.    In  all,  State  of  Karnataka  has  as  sum  of  Rs.  727.20  crore available for providing relief to the affected.

(d) to (e): A few States including Karnataka have requested for enhancement  of SDRF  allocation. In this regard, it is stated that successive   Finance   Commissions   (set-up   under   the   Article   280   of Constitution from time-to-time), determine the amount of annual allocation to  the  SDRF  of  each  State  for  each  of  the  financial  years  for  the  entire Award period. The Fourteenth Finance Commission has recommended an allocation  of  Rs.  61,220  crore  in  SDRF  to  all  the  States  for  the  Award Period (i.e. 2015-16 to 2019-20) against Rs. 33,580.93 crore recommended by the 13 th  Finance Commission.

In the instant case, the Fourteenth Finance Commission has recommended an allocation of Rs. 1527 crores under SDRF for Karnataka for the Award Period (i.e. 2015-16 to 2019-20), which is an increase of 71.69% against Rs. 889.41 crore recommended by the 13 th  Finance Commission for the years 2010-11 to 2014-15. The year-wise details of allocation of SDRF is given as under:-

| Sl. No.   | Year    |   Amount (Rs. in crore) |
|-----------|---------|-------------------------|
| 1         | 2015-16 |                     276 |
| 2         | 2016-17 |                     290 |
| 3         | 2017-18 |                     305 |
| 4         | 2018-19 |                     320 |
| 5         | 2019-20 |                     336 |
|           | Total:- |                    1527 |

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