Recently, a significant move has been made by the Ministry of Home Affairs with the decision to provide an ex gratia amount of Rs. 50,000 for the families of those who have tragically lost their loved ones to Covid-19. The recommendation for this relief came from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) with the aim of easing the financial burden on affected families. The disbursal is set to occur through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), following the official classification of Covid-19 as a disaster by the Ministry last year.
Understanding the Ex Gratia Scheme
This assistance is set to be applicable for any person who has passed away due to Covid-19, including individuals who were involved in relief operations or preparation activities. However, the scheme requires that the cause of death must be certified as Covid-19. It’s also important to note this support will be applicable from the date of the first case in the country and continue until the termination of Covid-19 as a disaster or until further instructions, whichever occurs first.
About the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)
The SDRF has been established under Section 48 (1) (a) of the Disaster Management Act of 2005 and was created based on the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission. Its central mandate is to provide immediate relief to victims of notified disasters, making it a primary resource for state governments to address such calamities. The transparency of the fund’s usage is ensured through an annual audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
Contribution to the SDRF
In terms of financial contributions, the Centre provides 75% of the total SDRF allocation for general category states and union territories, whilst for special category regions which include northeastern states, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, the contribution is increased to 90%. The central contributions are evenly divided into two installments throughout the year, adhering to the recommendations of the Finance Commission.
Areas of Coverage under the SDRF
The SDRF covers a broad range of disasters including cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, pest attacks, frost and cold waves.
Discretionary Use of SDRF for Local Disasters
Interestingly, the state government is permitted to use up to 10% of the available SDRF funds for immediate relief of victims of natural disasters that they deem as ‘disasters’ within their local context. This provision applies even when these disasters have not been included in the official list of disasters of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
As the country continues to grapple with the devastating impact of Covid-19, measures such as these will undoubtedly provide much needed financial relief to hundreds of families across the nation. The effectiveness of this scheme, along with other initiatives, will be crucial in determining how well we can support our citizen through these challenging times.
