HM Amit Shah-led Panel Clears ₹507 Cr for Disaster-Ready Panchayats
Funds approved to strengthen community-based disaster risk reduction in 20 states
- ₹507.37 crore approved for disaster mitigation at Panchayat level
- Project to cover 81 disaster-prone districts across 20 states
- 20 Gram Panchayats to be developed as model DRR units
- Initiative funded through NDMF, MoPR and state contributions
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th Dec: A High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has approved ₹507.37 crore for a national project aimed at strengthening Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across 20 states.
The project, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), marks a major expansion of the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) framework to the grassroots level. The NDMF was launched by the Modi government in 2021 to enhance India’s disaster resilience.
The initiative seeks to integrate disaster risk reduction into governance through a bottom-up approach, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a disaster-resilient India. It will cover 81 disaster-prone districts and develop 20 Gram Panchayats focused on major hazards as replicable local DRR models.
Out of the total outlay, ₹273.38 crore will be provided as the central share from the NDMF, with states contributing ₹30.37 crore. An additional ₹151.47 crore will be funded by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, along with a ₹52.15 crore state share.
The project will focus on institutional strengthening of PRIs, policy integration of DRR in development planning, capacity building and awareness programmes for disaster management authorities and elected representatives, and improved coordination for local disaster mitigation.
The approval comes over and above substantial disaster-related assistance already released by the Centre. In FY 2025–26, the government has disbursed ₹16,118 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and ₹2,854.18 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Additionally, ₹5,273.60 crore has been released from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) and ₹1,423.06 crore from the NDMF.
