Amit Shah’s championing of PM-CARES as a transparent, effective tool—and his slamming of the UPA’s PM-NRF as a symbol of nepotism—set the stage for a broader narrative battle ahead of future elections.
NEW DELHI (India CSR): In a fiery address to the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah robustly defended the transparency of the PM-CARES Fund while launching a blistering critique of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s handling of the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PM-NRF). The occasion was the discussion on the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was subsequently passed by the upper house, marking its approval by Parliament. Shah’s remarks not only underscored the Modi government’s commitment to disaster management reform but also reignited a heated political debate over the accountability of public relief funds.
A New Era in Disaster Management
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, a landmark legislation aimed at modernizing India’s approach to disaster preparedness and response, was a key focus of Shah’s speech. He emphasized that the bill reflects the Narendra Modi government’s intent to foster a collaborative framework involving the Centre, state governments, local bodies like panchayats, and citizens. “There is no question of centralization of power,” Shah asserted, countering opposition allegations that the bill undermines India’s federal structure. Instead, he framed it as a shift from a reactive to a proactive stance on disaster management, incorporating innovative and participatory strategies to tackle the growing scale of climate-related challenges.
Shah highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global leadership in disaster risk reduction, noting that Modi’s ten-point agenda—presented to the world and adopted by over 40 countries—forms the backbone of this legislative effort. “This bill ensures participation from state governments, local units, and society at large,” he said, adding that it provides clarity on the roles and responsibilities of institutions like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). Shah stressed that empowering these bodies with accountability and resources is critical to combating disasters effectively, a goal he claimed the bill achieves comprehensively.
Table 1: Key Features of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024
| Approach Shift | Moves from reactive response to proactive risk reduction and participatory disaster management |
| Institutional Empowerment | Grants statutory powers to NDMA, SDMA, and creates Urban Disaster Management Authorities |
| Federal Structure | Assigns biggest responsibility to DDMAs under state governments, refuting centralization claims |
| Technology Integration | Incorporates AI-based real-time monitoring, mobile apps, and social media warnings |
| Stakeholder Input | 89% of suggestions from states, NGOs, and international bodies included |
| Financial Clarity | Aligns with Finance Commission recommendations for disaster relief funding |
| Community Involvement | Encourages participation from society and citizens, e.g., ‘Aapada Mitra’ scheme |
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Evolution and Empowerment
The Home Minister traced the evolution of disaster management in India, pointing out that the original Disaster Management Act of 2005—enacted under the UPA—established the NDMA, SDMA, and DDMA. However, he argued that the Modi government has taken this framework further by assigning the “biggest responsibility” to DDMAs, which operate under state governments, thus preserving federal integrity. Financially, Shah detailed the creation of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), alongside the Finance Commission’s “scientific arrangement” for disaster relief. “The Modi government has not given a single penny less than prescribed to any state—rather, it has given more,” he declared, citing increased allocations as evidence of equitable support.
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PM-CARES vs. PM-NRF: A Political Flashpoint
Shah’s defense of the PM-CARES Fund emerged as a pivotal moment in the discussion, intertwining disaster management policy with a sharp political critique. Established in 2020 to address emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, PM-CARES has faced persistent scrutiny over its transparency and legal status as a private trust. Shah dismissed these criticisms, arguing that it represents a marked improvement over the PM-NRF, which he accused the UPA of mismanaging. “The PM-NRF was created during the previous regime, and funds were diverted to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation,” he alleged, referring to an organization linked to the Congress leadership. In contrast, he praised PM-CARES for its role in funding ventilators, oxygen plants, vaccinations, and relief efforts without “political interference.”
The Home Minister’s remarks drew a sharp line between the two funds. He claimed that PM-CARES operates with transparency and trust, channeling donations into tangible outcomes like India’s vaccination drive and disaster relief in states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. “We spent its funds on tackling the corona epidemic, assisting the poor, and rebuilding after disasters,” Shah said, citing specific allocations: Rs 5,800 crore of Rs 5,909 crore approved for Karnataka, Rs 2,438 crore of Rs 3,743 crore for Kerala, and Rs 4,600 crore of Rs 4,817 crore for Tamil Nadu. He contrasted this with what he described as the UPA’s opaque handling of PM-NRF, accusing Congress of allowing “one family” to dominate its operations.
Table 2: Comparison of PM-CARES Fund and PM-NRF as per Amit Shah’s Claims
| Aspect | Aspect | PM-NRF (Pre-2014 Era) |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment | Created in 2020 under PM Narendra Modi | Established in 1948 under Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Legal Status | Public charitable trust, not under RTI | Government fund, subject to some scrutiny |
| Transparency Claim | Shah: Transparent, no political interference | Shah: Opaque, controlled by Congress leadership |
| Usage Examples | Vaccines, ventilators, oxygen plants, disaster relief | Shah alleges diversion to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation |
| Funding Allocation | Rs 5,800 cr (Karnataka), Rs 2,438 cr (Kerala), etc. | Specific allocations not detailed by Shah |
| Criticism | Opposition: Lacks audit, accountability | Shah: Politically influenced, mismanaged |
| Oversight | Managed by Cabinet Committee on Security | Included Congress President as member |
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Opposition Strikes Back
The opposition, led by the Congress, hit back swiftly. Party leaders accused Shah of using the PM-CARES debate to deflect from the Modi government’s own accountability gaps. “PM-CARES is a black box—exempt from RTI and unaudited publicly,” a Congress spokesperson retorted, questioning why a fund collecting public donations lacks oversight. They defended the PM-NRF’s legacy, arguing that its inclusion of political figures was procedural, not a mechanism for control, and accused the BJP of rewriting history to suit its narrative.
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A Decade of Transformation
Shah’s speech also showcased the Modi government’s broader achievements in disaster management over the past decade. He credited Modi with shifting India from a relief-centric to a holistic, proactive approach, exemplified by a “zero casualty” target that replaced the earlier “minimum casualty” goal. Citing examples, Shah noted the drastic reduction in cyclone-related deaths: from 10,000 during the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone to one during Cyclone Fani in 2019, and zero during Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat in 2023. “This is a 98 percent reduction in loss of life and property,” he said, attributing it to improved early warning systems, prevention efforts, and community preparedness.
The Home Minister detailed financial enhancements under Modi, including a tripling of disaster relief budgets. The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) allocation rose from Rs 38,000 crore (2004–2014) to Rs 1,24,000 crore (2014–2024), while the NDRF budget increased from Rs 28,000 crore to Rs 80,000 crore over the same periods. “We’ve gone from Rs 66,000 crore to over Rs 2 lakh crores,” Shah said, underscoring the government’s commitment to states. Additional initiatives, like the Rs 250 crore National Disaster Response Reserve and the 2016 National Disaster Management Plan aligned with the Sendai Framework, were cited as milestones.
Table 3: Disaster Management Achievements Under Modi Government (2014–2024)
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Budget Increase | SDRF: Rs 38,000 cr (2004–14) to Rs 1,24,000 cr (2014–24); NDRF: Rs 28,000 cr to Rs 80,000 cr |
| Casualty Reduction | 98% drop in cyclone deaths; e.g., 10,000 (1999 Odisha) to 0 (2023 Biparjoy) |
| Global Leadership | CDRI (42 countries), ISA, 10-point disaster risk reduction agenda adopted by 40+ nations |
| Community Volunteers | ‘Aapada Mitra’: 1 lakh trained, expanding to 3.37 lakh with youth involvement |
| Technology Adoption | Apps like Mausam, Flood Watch, India Quake for real-time alerts |
| International Operations | NDRF missions: ‘Operation Dost’ (Turkey, 2023), ‘Operation Maitri’ (Nepal, 2015) |
| Financial Support to States | Rs 2 lakh cr+ total disaster relief, e.g., Rs 530 cr (Wayanad, Kerala, 2024) |
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Global Leadership and Local Innovation
On the global stage, Shah portrayed India as a leader in disaster resilience, driven by Modi’s vision. He highlighted the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), launched in 2019 with 42 countries and seven international organizations as members, and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as examples of India’s influence. The NDRF’s international operations—such as ‘Operation Dost’ in Turkey and Syria in 2023—earned praise worldwide, reinforcing India’s stature. Domestically, the ‘Aapada Mitra’ scheme has trained one lakh community volunteers across 350 disaster-prone districts, with plans to expand to 3.37 lakh, including youth from NCC and NSS.
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill itself introduces key reforms: statutory powers for NDMA and SDMA, the creation of Urban Disaster Management Authorities under state control, and AI-based real-time monitoring to replace manual systems. Shah emphasized that it moves India from radio warnings to mobile apps and social media alerts, integrating society into a multi-dimensional response. “This bill is about capacity, intensity, efficiency, and accuracy,” he said, noting that 89 percent of stakeholder suggestions—from states, NGOs, and international bodies—were incorporated.
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Environment and Disaster Synergy
Shah tied disaster management to climate change, praising Modi’s environmental initiatives like Mission Life and the Global Biofuel Alliance. He recalled Modi’s early innovations as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, such as the 2003 State Disaster Management Act and the 2013 Ahmedabad heat wave action plan, as precursors to national policy. “On one hand, we prevent disasters by protecting the environment; on the other, we fight them scientifically from villages to Delhi,” Shah said.
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A Political and Policy Triumph
As the bill passed, the political slugfest over PM-CARES and PM-NRF intensified. Shah’s championing of PM-CARES as a transparent, effective tool—and his slamming of the UPA’s PM-NRF as a symbol of nepotism—set the stage for a broader narrative battle ahead of future elections. For now, the Modi government celebrates a legislative victory, but the debate over transparency and accountability in relief funding promises to linger, shaping public perception in the months to come.
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