Foreign Aids during Disaster:
- The Kerala government has asked the Centre to go by the 2016 National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) while taking a call on the UAE government’s offer of 700 crore rupees in assistance or compensate the State for the loss of such a hefty sum.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi had welcomed the UAE government making the 700 crore offer. It is only natural for nations to help each other. Moreover, the National Disaster Management Plan, brought out by the Central government in May 2016, does state clearly that any voluntary offer of assistance from other countries can be accepted.
- The relevant section of the chapter on ‘International Cooperation’ of the NDMP reads:
- As a matter of policy, the Government of India does not issue any appeal for foreign assistance in the wake of a disaster.
- However, if the national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims, the Central Government may accept the offer.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, is required to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, which is primarily responsible for reviewing foreign offers of assistance and channelising the same.
- In consultation with the State Government concerned, the MHA will assess the response requirements that the foreign teams can provide.
MEA:
- India has said a polite ‘no’ to offers of foreign assistance to the Kerala flood victims. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said India will rely on domestic resources for the State’s ongoing flood relief efforts.
- In line with the existing policy, the Government is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts.
- It was the first time, since the floods struck Kerala, that the MEA clearly indicated India’s preference for domestic resources over foreign assistance.
- However, certain foreign entities other than governments were welcome to contribute to disaster relief.
- Contributions to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would be welcome.
- The formal declaration of India’s official position on foreign aid for flood relief in Kerala came hours after the ambassador of Thailand revealed that India was not accepting foreign offers for help.
- The message from the Thai ambassador and the statement from the MEA spokesperson settled the debate over the reported offer from the government of UAE to help flood relief with Rupees 700 crore.
- The total volume of financial support from the entire Gulf region (including UAE) is calculated to be far greater than the Rupees 600 crore that the government of India has declared for Kerala so far.
- However, the official position is in accordance with the existing standpoint regarding foreign assistance which stems from the fact that India is “capable” of dealing with natural calamities.
- It is understood that ‘as of now’ India will continue to deal with natural calamities in the way it has dealt with such episodes in the last 15 years when a convention to avoid foreign aid was adopted in the backdrop of the Gujarat earthquake of 2001 and the tsunami of 2004.
- However, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi has stated that his country is providing support to Kerala through institutions.