Bhubaneswar: In a significant relief measure, the Central Government has approved an additional ₹255.24 crore for Odisha under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to aid the state in recovering from cyclonic storms and floods that impacted the region in 2024.
The decision was taken by the High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah.
This financial assistance is part of a larger ₹1,554.99 crore package allocated to five states affected by natural disasters. Alongside Odisha, Andhra Pradesh (₹608.08 crore), Nagaland (₹170.99 crore), Telangana (₹231.75 crore), and Tripura (₹288.93 crore) have also been granted funds.
The approved aid comes in addition to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) allocations already made available to Odisha. The Central Government has been proactive in disaster management, having disbursed ₹18,322.80 crore to 27 states through SDRF and ₹4,808.30 crore from NDRF to 18 states in the financial year 2024-25. Odisha has also benefited from other mitigation funds, including the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) and the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), aimed at strengthening resilience against future calamities.
In response to the natural disasters, the Centre had promptly deputed Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to assess the damages in Odisha without waiting for a formal memorandum from the state government. This reflects the Union Government’s commitment to providing immediate relief and rehabilitation support to disaster-hit regions.
With this additional funding, the Odisha government is expected to expedite rehabilitation efforts, restore infrastructure, and provide essential assistance to affected communities, reinforcing the state’s disaster preparedness and resilience.
