Centre Doubles Disaster Death Compensation to ₹8 Lakh; CM Dhami Thanks PM Modi and Amit Shah
Higher financial assistance announced for disaster-related losses to agriculture, livestock, houses and public infrastructure
Decision particularly beneficial for disaster-prone Uttarakhand: Chief Minister
Dehradun: Families affected by natural disasters in Uttarakhand will now be eligible for significantly higher financial assistance following the Centre’s decision to revise compensation norms under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah for the significant enhancement of disaster relief assistance standards.
Describing the decision as particularly important for a geographically challenging and disaster-prone state like Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister said the revised norms would provide greater financial support to affected families and strengthen relief, rehabilitation and restoration efforts.
Dhami said the Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has consistently remained sensitive to Uttarakhand’s geographical challenges and specific requirements.
The state frequently faces heavy rainfall, landslides, cloudbursts, floods and other natural disasters, resulting in damage to human lives, agricultural land, crops, livestock, residential buildings and public infrastructure. The enhanced assistance norms will provide much-needed financial support to affected communities and help restore normalcy after disasters.
Ex-gratia assistance for disaster deaths increased to ₹8 lakh
Under the revised norms, financial assistance provided to the next of kin of a person who dies in a natural disaster has been doubled from ₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh per deceased person. Personnel engaged in rescue and relief operations have also been included under this provision.
Assistance for permanent disability has also been enhanced. Compensation for permanent disability ranging from 40 to 60 per cent has been increased from ₹74,000 to ₹94,000. For permanent disability exceeding 60 per cent, the amount has been raised from ₹2.50 lakh to ₹3.20 lakh.
Financial assistance for seriously injured persons has also been increased.
Higher compensation for crop and agricultural land damage
The revised norms provide enhanced assistance to farmers whose crops and agricultural land are damaged by natural disasters.
For rain-fed crops, assistance has been increased from ₹8,500 to ₹11,000 per hectare. For crops grown under assured irrigation, the amount has been raised from ₹17,000 to ₹22,000 per hectare.
Assistance for damage to perennial and horticultural crops has increased from ₹22,500 to ₹30,000 per hectare.
Similarly, compensation for agricultural land permanently damaged due to landslides and avalanches has been increased from ₹47,000 to ₹60,000 per hectare. The enhanced assistance is expected to benefit farmers and horticulturists, particularly in the state’s mountainous regions.
Enhanced assistance for livestock losses
The Centre has also increased compensation for livestock losses caused by natural disasters.
Assistance for the loss of large animals has been raised from ₹37,500 to ₹50,000 per animal, while compensation for small animals has increased from ₹4,000 to ₹5,100 per animal.
The revised norms also provide higher assistance for poultry farming, fisheries and the loss of animal fodder, offering additional financial support to livestock owners and rural households dependent on allied agricultural activities.
Higher compensation for damaged houses
Compensation for residential buildings damaged by natural disasters has also been enhanced.
For completely damaged houses in plain areas, assistance has been increased from ₹1.20 lakh to ₹1.60 lakh per house. In hilly and inaccessible areas, the amount has been raised from ₹1.30 lakh to ₹1.70 lakh.
Assistance for partially damaged houses, huts and cattle sheds has also been increased.
Furthermore, financial assistance for the loss of clothing and household goods has been enhanced separately from ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 per family under the respective categories.
Enhanced support for restoration of public infrastructure
The revised assistance standards also strengthen financial support for the immediate repair and restoration of public infrastructure damaged by disasters.
The covered infrastructure includes roads and bridges, drinking water schemes, minor irrigation projects, electricity supply systems, school buildings, primary and community health centres, and panchayat and community assets.
The increased assistance is expected to accelerate the restoration of essential services and improve living conditions in disaster-affected areas.
Ensuring timely and transparent assistance remains priority: CM Dhami
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state government’s foremost priority is to provide immediate relief to disaster-affected people and complete rehabilitation and restoration work within stipulated timelines.
He said the enhanced assistance norms announced by the Central Government would play an important role in strengthening these efforts.
The Chief Minister further stated that, with the continued support and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Uttarakhand is consistently strengthening its disaster management, relief and rehabilitation mechanisms.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring that every eligible disaster-affected individual and family receives the benefits of the revised assistance norms in a transparent, fair and time-bound manner.
