Centre releases new guidelines for state disaster-response funding

The central government has issued revised guidelines for the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), giving states greater flexibility to spend on preparedness infrastructure such as embankment reinforcement and early-warning systems, rather than only post-disaster relief.

Previously, the fund was largely restricted to relief and rehabilitation after a disaster had already struck. Under the new norms, states can now use a defined share of their annual allocation for pre-disaster works — a change particularly relevant for a flood-prone state like Assam.

"We had been asking for a more flexible fund for embankment strengthening ahead of the monsoon for a long time. This revision helps in that direction," said an official with Assam's Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

District administrations have now been asked to submit their pre-monsoon preparedness plans by May, so that work can begin from June. Experts have described the shift as moving disaster management "from reactive to preparedness-led."