The central government has published the guidelines for contributing to the National Disaster Response FUND (NDRF) for the first time since its creation 15 years ago. The rules have been clarified for both individuals and institutions alike who want to donate to this fund.
Highlights
- Contributions to the NDRF can be made using any of the modes like physical instruments, electronic fund transfer such as NEFT, RTGS, UPI, etc and also by using the website https://bharatkosh.gov.in.
- The contributions to this fund are administered as per the provisions of Section 46 (1) (b) of the Disaster Management Act 2005.
- The individuals and institutions have been allowed to contribute to the NDRF after 15 years of its establishment.
- If anybody is contributing through physical instruments, the same should be drawn favouring “PAO (Secretariat), MHA, New Delhi’ and on the back of the instrument ‘contributions/grants to NDRF’ can be written by the donors.
- Through the electronic fund transfer, the contributions can be made mentioning the purpose as ‘Contribution / Grants to NDRF’ and deposited at SBI Central Secretariat Branch, New Delhi.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
It is a fund managed by the Central Government for meeting the expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation due to any disaster situation. This is defined in Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It supplements the funds of the State Disaster Response Funds of the states to facilitate immediate relief in case of any kind of calamity of severe nature. It used to be financed through a levy of a cess on certain items, chargeable to excise and customs duty and approved annually through the Finance Bill. The requirement for funds beyond what is available under the NDRF is met through the budgetary support by the government. Now, individuals and institutions have also been allowed to contribute to this fund.