Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Government of India is standing shoulder to shoulder with the state governments during natural calamities and disasters. Under this, the High-Level Committee (HLC), under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, has approved Rs12.80 billion of additional Central assistance to Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and UT of Puducherry, affected by flood, flash flood, cloudburst, landslides, cyclonic storm, during year 2024.

The HLC approved central assistance of Rs 12.47 billion to three States from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), subject to an adjustment of 50 per cent of the opening balance for the year available in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs 330.06 million to one UT. Out of the total amount of Rs 12.80 billion, Rs 5.88 billion has been approved for Bihar, Rs 1.36 billion for Himachal Pradesh, Rs 5.22 billion for Tamil Nadu and Rs 330.06 million for Union Territory of Puducherry.

This additional assistance is over and above the funds released by the Centre to the States in the SDRF and Union Territorial Disaster Response Fund (UTDRF), already placed at the disposal of the States/UT. During the financial year 2024-25, the Central Government has released Rs 202.64 billion to 28 States under SDRF and Rs 51.60 billion under NDRF to 19 States. Additionally, Rs 49.84 billion from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) to 19 States and Rs 7.19 billion from National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) to 08 States has also been released.

The Central Government had deputed Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to these States, immediately after the calamities, without waiting for the receipt of a formal Memorandum.