Finance ministry paves way for individual contributions to National Disaster Response Fund

The Narendra Modi government has finally issued guidelines to allow any person or institution to contribute directly to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) set up under the Act nearly 15 years after the Disaster Management Act was passed.

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Key-Points

The NDRF is set up to “meet the expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation” in the situation of a disaster. All states have their own such funds under the Act.

This is a significant development at a time when many have expressed concerns about donations sent to the PM CARES Fund or the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, as both claim they are not public authorities subject to questions under the Right to Information Act.

The NDRF was set up in accordance with Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

According to Section 46(1)(b) of the Act, the government can set up the NDRF to allow the public to contribute money.

Although Section 46 includes a clause for grants made by any person or institution, provisions for such donations had not been made.