Centre Increases SDRF-NDRF Relief Assistance for Disaster Victims in Uttarakhand

 

Relief for affected families as financial assistance norms revised following CM Pushkar Singh Dhami’s request

 

Ex-gratia assistance for deaths doubled from ₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh; higher compensation announced for crop, livestock, housing and infrastructure damage

 

Revised assistance norms effective from FY 2026-27

 

Dehradun: Disaster-affected families in Uttarakhand will now be eligible for higher financial assistance following a significant revision of relief norms by the Central Government under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). The decision, taken following the request of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, increases assistance across several categories, including loss of life, disability, agricultural damage, livestock, housing and public infrastructure. The revised provisions have come into effect for the financial year 2026-27.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the decision.

The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand’s challenging geographical conditions make it vulnerable to floods, landslides, heavy rainfall, cloudbursts, snowfall and other natural disasters. Such incidents frequently cause extensive damage to human life, agricultural land, crops, livestock, houses and public infrastructure.

He said the enhanced assistance norms would provide substantial relief to affected families and enable the state government to extend more effective financial support. The revised provisions would also strengthen relief, rehabilitation and restoration efforts in disaster-hit areas.

Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik said the enhanced norms would benefit affected families, farmers, livestock owners, fish farmers, artisans and local public infrastructure. The increased assistance would help make post-disaster relief and rehabilitation more effective.

Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman said the revised provisions had become effective from the financial year 2026-27. The enhanced norms cover several categories of disaster-related losses.

 

Higher Assistance for Deaths, Disability and Personal Losses

The ex-gratia assistance provided to the next of kin of a person killed in a disaster has been doubled from ₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh per deceased person. Personnel engaged in relief and rescue operations have also been included under this provision.

Financial assistance for permanent disability between 40 and 60 per cent has been increased from ₹74,000 to ₹94,000 per person. For severe permanent disability exceeding 60 per cent, the assistance has been enhanced from ₹2.50 lakh to ₹3.20 lakh.

For serious injuries requiring hospitalisation for more than one week, assistance has been increased from ₹16,000 to ₹20,500 per person. For hospitalisation of less than one week, the amount has been raised from ₹5,400 to ₹7,000.

Daily subsistence assistance will be provided at the revised prescribed rates of ₹60 and ₹90 per day, depending on the applicable category. Assistance for loss of clothing and essential household items has been doubled from ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 per family for each category.

 

Increased Assistance for Agriculture, Horticulture and Sericulture

The revised norms also provide higher input subsidies to farmers suffering agricultural losses due to natural disasters.

For rain-fed crops, assistance has been increased from ₹8,500 to ₹11,000 per hectare, with a maximum eligible area of two hectares. The minimum assistance has been raised from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500.

For crops under assured irrigation, the assistance has increased from ₹17,000 to ₹22,000 per hectare, while the minimum amount has been raised from ₹2,000 to ₹2,600.

For perennial and horticultural crops, assistance has been enhanced from ₹22,500 to ₹30,000 per hectare. The minimum assistance has also increased from ₹2,500 to ₹3,200. The maximum eligible area under these crop categories remains two hectares.

In the sericulture sector, assistance for Eri and Mulberry cultivation has been increased from ₹6,000 to ₹7,800 per hectare. For Muga cultivation, the amount has been enhanced from ₹7,500 to ₹9,800 per hectare.

Assistance for removing silt and sand deposits exceeding three inches on agricultural land has been increased from ₹18,000 to ₹23,000 per hectare. Compensation for permanently damaged land caused by landslides or avalanches has been raised from ₹47,000 to ₹60,000 per hectare.

 

Higher Compensation for Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries

Livestock owners affected by disasters will also receive enhanced financial support.

Compensation for the loss of large animals, including cows, buffaloes, camels and yaks, has been increased from ₹37,500 to ₹50,000 per animal, subject to a maximum of three animals per family.

For small animals such as sheep, goats and pigs, assistance has been raised from ₹4,000 to ₹5,100 per animal.

In drought-affected areas, compensation for large animals has increased from ₹32,000 to ₹41,000 per animal, while assistance for small animals has been enhanced from ₹20,000 to ₹25,400.

For poultry losses, assistance has been increased from ₹100 to ₹130 per bird.

The daily fodder assistance provided at animal camps has also been revised. Support for large animals has increased from ₹80 to ₹100 per day, while assistance for small animals has risen from ₹45 to ₹60 per day.

The fisheries sector will receive higher assistance for the repair and replacement of boats and fishing nets. Financial support for boat repairs has increased from ₹6,000 to ₹8,000, while assistance for purchasing a new boat has been raised from ₹15,000 to ₹19,000.

For fishing nets, repair assistance has increased from ₹3,000 to ₹4,000, while support for purchasing new nets has risen from ₹4,000 to ₹5,100.

Input subsidy for fish seeds and related requirements has been enhanced from ₹10,000 to ₹13,000 per hectare.

 

Increased Assistance for Damaged Houses and Cottage Industries

The revised relief norms provide higher compensation for houses damaged or destroyed in disasters.

For completely damaged houses in plain areas, assistance has been increased from ₹1.20 lakh to ₹1.60 lakh per house. In hilly and remote areas, the amount has been enhanced from ₹1.30 lakh to ₹1.70 lakh.

For partially damaged pucca houses, assistance has increased from ₹6,500 to ₹8,500, while compensation for partially damaged kutcha houses has been raised from ₹4,000 to ₹5,500 per house.

Assistance for completely destroyed huts has been increased from ₹8,000 to ₹10,500. For damaged cattle sheds, the amount has been enhanced from ₹3,000 to ₹4,000.

Artisans engaged in handicrafts and handloom activities will also receive higher support for the loss of tools and raw materials. Assistance for each category has been increased from ₹5,000 to ₹6,500.

 

Higher Funding for Restoration of Roads, Bridges, Water and Electricity Infrastructure

The Central Government has also enhanced assistance for the immediate repair and restoration of public infrastructure damaged by disasters. The revised provisions cover roads, bridges, drinking water supply systems, minor irrigation works, electricity infrastructure, schools, healthcare facilities and community assets.

Roads and Bridges: Assistance for repairing state highways, major district roads and other major roads has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.30 lakh per kilometre in normal areas. In hilly areas, the amount has been raised from ₹1.25 lakh to ₹1.60 lakh per kilometre.

For rural and village roads, including culverts, assistance has increased from ₹60,000 to ₹80,000 per kilometre in normal areas and from ₹75,000 to ₹1 lakh per kilometre in hilly areas. Similar enhanced provisions have been made for the repair of RCC culverts and bridges.

Drinking Water Supply: Assistance for the immediate restoration of damaged drinking water schemes or units has increased from ₹2 lakh to ₹2.60 lakh per damaged unit.

Minor Irrigation: For minor irrigation works, excluding major and medium irrigation projects, the assistance has been raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹2.60 lakh per work.

Electricity Supply: Assistance for damaged electricity poles has increased from ₹5,000 to ₹6,500 per pole. Support for repairing damaged low-tension (LT) lines has been enhanced from ₹50,000 to ₹70,000 per kilometre. Assistance for replacing damaged distribution transformers has increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.30 lakh per transformer.

Education and Healthcare: Assistance for damaged primary and secondary school buildings has increased from ₹2 lakh to ₹2.60 lakh per school building. Similarly, support for damaged primary and community health centres has been raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹2.60 lakh per health centre unit.

Panchayat and Community Assets: Assistance for damaged panchayat and community assets has been increased from ₹2.50 lakh to ₹3.20 lakh per unit.

 

Search and Rescue Operations to Continue Receiving Actual-Cost Support

The provision for search and rescue operations will continue on an actual-cost basis. It covers essential services and resources, including boats, helicopters and logistical arrangements required during disaster response operations.

Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman said the enhancement of SDRF and NDRF assistance norms was particularly significant for a disaster-prone state like Uttarakhand.

He said the revised provisions would provide stronger financial support to affected families and accelerate the restoration of damaged agricultural land, crops, livestock, houses and local infrastructure.

He added that necessary instructions would be issued to the concerned departments and district administrations to ensure that eligible disaster-affected people receive assistance in a timely, transparent and effective manner.

The revised norms are expected to strengthen the state’s disaster relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, particularly in remote and vulnerable areas of Uttarakhand.