Telangana, Andhra Pradesh among 22 states to get SDRF funds in wake of heavy rains across India

The amount has been released as per the recommendations of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

👉 Centre releases ₹7,532 crore to the States for Disaster Response

👉 Guidelines relaxed to provide funds to States immediately in view of heavy rains and associated natural disasters

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— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) July 12, 2023

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SDRF guidelines relaxed this year

In the wake of heavy rains across the country, the guidelines have been relaxed and the amount has been released as immediate assistance to states without waiting for the utilisation certificate of the amount provided to the states in the last financial year.

The SDRF is constituted in each state under Section 48(1)(a) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

It is the primary fund available for state governments for responses to notified disasters.

The Union government contributes 75 percent to the SDRF in general states and 90 percent to the Northeastern and Himalayan states.

The annual Central contribution is released in two equal instalments, as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission.

As per the guidelines, the funds are released on receipt of a utilisation certificate of the amount released in the earlier instalment and a report from the state government on the activities undertaken with the SDRF.

However, in view of the urgency, these requirements were waived while releasing the funds this time.

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SDRF allocation

The SDRF is to be used only for meeting the expenditure required to provide immediate relief to the victims of notified calamities like cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, pest attacks, and frost and cold waves.

Allocation of SDRF funds to the states is based on multiple factors, like past expenditure, area, population, and disaster risk index.

These factors reflect states’ institutional capacity, risk exposure, and hazard and vulnerability.

Based on the 15th Finance Commission recommendations, the central government has allocated ₹1,28,122.40 crore for SDRF for 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Out of this amount, the Union government’s share is ₹98,080.80 crore. It has already provided ₹34,140 crore before the current release.

With the current release, the total amount of the Central share of SDRF released to the state governments has gone up to ₹42,366 crore.

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