India’s central government recently declined a Rs. 700 Cr. aid offer from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) proposed for the relief and rehabilitation efforts in response to the devastating floods in Kerala. Offers of help from other countries such as Qatar, Thailand, and Maldives likewise have been refused by India. This decision aligns with India’s policy formulated after the 2004 Tsunami that struck Indian Ocean regions, which stipulates a refusal of all foreign aid during natural disasters.
The Historical Context of Refusing Aid
After experiencing the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, the Indian Government implemented a policy prohibiting the acceptance of foreign aid in the wake of natural disasters. This policy was enforced during various crises including the Kashmir Earthquake in 2005, Uttarakhand floods in 2013 and the Kashmir floods in 2014. The policy dictates that the government will solely rely on domestic efforts for relief and reconstruction.
The Rationale Behind India’s Refusal
As an emerging power, India seeks to establish itself as a net security and aid provider within its region. It believes that as a rapidly growing economy, it possesses the capability to manage natural calamities internally. If India were to accept foreign aid from one nation, it could potentially trigger a wave of similar offers from other nations, posing diplomatic challenges in refusing these contributions.
Can India Accept Foreign Aid?
Although the current policy is to decline international assistance, the National Disaster Management Plan of 2016 (NDMP-2016) specifies that the Indian Government does not actively seek foreign aid. However, the Central Government can consider accepting such offers if they are made as goodwill gestures by foreign states in solidarity with victims of disasters.
About The National Disaster Management Plan-2016
The NDMP offers a comprehensive framework and guidelines for governmental agencies to navigate all phases of disaster management. These phases include mitigation (which covers prevention and risk reduction), preparedness, response, and recovery (which involves immediate restoration and better reconstruction). The NDMP-2016 is aligned with the goals and priorities outlined in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
