Assam Received Rs 716 Crore as Central Funds under SDRF

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The central government released funds under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for Assam in the recently concluded financial year of 2024-25. However, despite the grim flood situation last year that caused huge losses in infrastructure and people’s lives, there were no funds released under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

Financial assistance is released to states under SDRF as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission. After the recommendations are made by the Commission, it is a must for the central government to release the funds. Allocations under SDRF are made on a 90:10 ratio, with the centre bearing 90% of the total funds allocated and the state concerned bearing the remaining 10%.

Under NDRF, the central government releases funds to the states to combat disasters after assessing the ground situation. It is more convenient for states to get funds under NDRF, as the full amount is borne by the central government.

According to available information, as of March 12, 2025, Assam’s allocation of funds under SDRF was Rs 795.20 crore for FY 2024-25. Of this amount, the centre’s share was Rs 716 crore, and the remaining Rs 79.20 crore was the state share. The Centre’s share was released in two equal instalments of Rs 358 crore to the Assam government.

After the floods receded last year, the Assam government had submitted a memorandum to the central government for the release of additional funds. An inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) also visited Assam for a spot assessment of the damage caused by the floods in July 2024.

While Assam was not allocated any funds under NDRF, a few other states received additional funds under NDRF. The states that received such funds are Himachal Pradesh with Rs 66.92 crore, Karnataka with Rs 3454.22 crore, Mizoram with Rs 7.56 crore, Nagaland with Rs 170.99 crore, Sikkim with Rs 221.12 crore, Tamil Nadu with Rs 276.10 crore and Tripura with an amount of Rs 174.97 crore.

Floods are a perennial problem in Assam, and more than 100 people perished during the devastating floods in 2024. In the last five years, the death toll due to floods was around 900.

As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the primary responsibility for disaster management, including 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 the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal, in accordance with the Government of India’s 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 the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid-down procedure.

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