India Lockdown: Union Home Minister Approves Rs 5,751.27 Crore Additional Central Assistance to 8 States

The High-Level Committee (HLC) under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has recently approved additional Central assistance under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to eight States including Bihar, Kerala, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan and West Bengal, which were affected by floods, landslides, cyclone, and drought during 2019.

As per the report, HLC approved additional Central assistance of Rs 5751.27 crore to eight States from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) subject to the adjustment of 50% of balances available in the SDRF account as on 1st April of the financial year - Rs 953.17 crore to Bihar(of this Rs. 400 crores already released ‘on account basis’), Rs. 460.77 crore to Kerala, Rs. 177.37 crore to Nagaland, Rs 179.64 crore to Odisha, Rs 1758.18 crore to Maharashtra, Rs. 1119.98 crore to Rajasthan, Rs. 1090.68 crore to West Bengal for floods/ landslides /cyclone, drought (Kharif) during 2019 and Rs. 11.48 crore to Karnataka towards additional assistance under Animal Husbandry sector for drought (rabi) of 2018-19.

During 2019-20, till date, Centre Government has already released Rs 10937.62 crore to 29 States (including erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir) as Central share from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and additional assistance of Rs. 14108.58 crore to 8 States under NDRF, says PIB (Press Information Bureau)  report.