ReliefWeb

Bharti Jain,TNN | Apr 9, 2015, 01.40 AM IST

NEW DELHI: In what will bring succour to the disaster-hit, the government has revised norms of assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Respond Fund (SDRF), raising ex-gratia relief for the dead to Rs 4 lakh from Rs 1.50 lakh. Disability over 60% resulting from floods, cyclones and earthquakes etc will now entitle one to Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia payment, a jump from the Rs 62,000 assistance extended until now.

People whose houses are fully damaged or destroyed in disasters will get a compensation of Rs 95,100 per house in plain areas (up from Rs 70,000) and Rs 1,01,900 per house in hilly areas (up from Rs 75,000). However, houses where damage is at least 15% will fetch an assistance of Rs 5,200 (up from Rs 3,800) for a pucca house and Rs 3,200 for a kutcha house (up from Rs 2,300). Damaged/destroyed huts will entitle one to Rs 4,100 per hut (up from Rs 3,000), while a damaged cattleshed will be compensated with Rs 2,100 per head (up from Rs 1,500).

The norms shall apply to centrally notified disasters like floods, cyclones, drought, hailstorm, tsunami, earthquake etc. They will be effective from April 1, 2015 and cover the period 2015-2020. The government has enabled automatic updation of norms by referencing with the movement of wholesale price index.

A home ministry press release on Wednesday said the Centre has permitted up to 10% of allocation under SDRF to be spent on equipment. A maximum of 5% of SDRF allocation can be spent on capacity building and state governments can use up to 10% of their SDRF allocation on 'local disasters' for which state executive committees shall work out the modalities.

The government of India has also simplified the procedure for adjustment of available balances under SDRF, while releasing funds from NDRF in severe disasters. "50% of SDRF balance, as on March 31 of the preceding financial year, will be adjusted while releasing assistance from NDRF for the first disaster in a financial year. In case the state faces another severe disaster during the same year, no adjustment will be made while releasing NDRF assistance," the revised list of items and norms for assistance under SDRF/NDRF said.

The ex-gratia payment to the kin of persons killed in disasters would also extend to those involved in relief operations or associated in disaster preparedness activities.

Grievous injury will entitle one to Rs 12,700 if hospitalized for more than a week. For victims whose clothes and utensils are washed away or fully damaged, the compensation will be Rs 1,800 per family for loss of clothing and Rs 2,000 per family for loss of utensils and household goods.

Families whose livelihood is seriously affected will get assistance of Rs 60 per adult and Rs 45 per child, not housed in relief camps.

Assistance will be extended for replacement of milch animals. While Rs 30,000 will be given for replacement of buffalo/cow or camel, a lost sheep/goat/pig will fetch Rs 3,000. Replacement of draught animals will be funded with assistance between Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000.

Fishermen will receive between Rs 2,600 and Rs 9,600 depending on whether their net or boats are partially or fully damaged. Artisans too will get Rs 4,100 each for damaged equipment.