Amit Shah-Led High-Level Committee Clears National Project Covering 20 States and 81 Disaster-Prone Districts
₹5,273.60 crore has been released from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) to 21 states
In a significant step towards building a disaster-resilient India, a High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has approved ₹507.37 crore for a National Project for Strengthening Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Initiatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across 20 states. The approval marks a decisive shift in India’s disaster management strategy, taking preparedness and mitigation directly to the grassroots. Implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the project seeks to embed disaster risk reduction into local governance systems. This initiative reflects the Modi government’s sustained focus on empowering states, Union Territories, and local bodies to respond to disasters with preparedness, confidence, and coordination, ensuring that resilience begins at the village level rather than only at the top of the administrative pyramid.
Extending the National Disaster Mitigation Vision to Panchayats
The approval builds on the foundation laid in 2021, when the Modi government launched the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) to armor Indian society against natural and man-made disasters. With this decision, the scope of disaster mitigation has been formally extended to Panchayati Raj Institutions, acknowledging their critical role as the first line of response during any calamity.
The move reinforces the Centre’s belief that disaster resilience cannot remain confined to state capitals or national agencies but must be owned by local institutions closest to vulnerable communities. By strengthening PRIs, the government aims to ensure faster preparedness, informed decision-making, and effective mitigation at the grassroots. The initiative underlines the government’s resolute commitment to empowering states and Union Territories, enabling them to face floods, cyclones, earthquakes, droughts, and other hazards with institutional strength and community participation.
Bottom-Up Disaster Management Aligned with PM Modi’s Vision
This national project is firmly rooted in Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a disaster-resilient India, where risk reduction is seamlessly integrated into governance through a bottom-up approach. The Ministry of Home Affairs is providing comprehensive support to states and Union Territories to mainstream DRR practices into development planning at the Panchayat level.
The programme will cover 81 disaster-prone districts across 20 states and will also develop 20 Gram Panchayats focused on major hazards as replicable models for local disaster risk reduction. These model Panchayats will demonstrate best practices that can be scaled nationwide. By aligning disaster mitigation with local development, the initiative ensures that resilience becomes a continuous process rather than a reactive response, transforming Panchayats into proactive institutions capable of safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
Funding Structure and Key Capacity-Building Activities
Out of the total approved outlay of ₹507.37 crore, ₹273.38 crore will be the Central share under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund, with states contributing a commensurate share of ₹30.37 crore. Additionally, ₹151.47 crore will be provided by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, accompanied by a state share of ₹52.15 crore. The project focuses on institutional strengthening, policy integration of DRR into Panchayat development planning, and extensive capacity building.
Activities include training and awareness programmes for State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), and PRI members through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) initiatives. Emphasis will also be placed on fostering inter-institutional collaboration to ensure effective coordination for local-level disaster mitigation and preparedness.
Additional Central Support Reinforces Disaster Preparedness Nationwide
This assistance comes over and above the substantial funds already released by the Centre to states under various disaster-related funds. During FY 2025–26, the Central Government has released ₹16,118 crore to 28 states under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and ₹2,854.18 crore to 18 states under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
Furthermore, ₹5,273.60 crore has been released from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) to 21 states, while ₹1,423.06 crore has been provided from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund to 14 states. Together, these allocations demonstrate the Modi government’s comprehensive and forward-looking approach to disaster management—one that prioritizes preparedness, mitigation, and local empowerment to protect communities and strengthen national resilience.
Table: Key Facts – National Project for Strengthening Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Name | National Project for Strengthening Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Initiatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions |
| Approved By | High-Level Committee (HLC) |
| Chairperson, HLC | Shri Amit Shah, Union Home Minister & Minister of Cooperation |
| Total Approved Outlay | ₹507.37 crore |
| Implementing Ministries / Bodies | Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Panchayati Raj, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) |
| Year of Approval | 2025 |
| Geographical Coverage | 20 States |
| Districts Covered | 81 disaster-prone districts |
| Model Panchayats | 20 Gram Panchayats to be developed as replicable DRR models |
| Core Objective | Integrate Disaster Risk Reduction into local governance through a bottom-up approach |
| Central Share (NDMF) | ₹273.38 crore |
| State Share (NDMF component) | ₹30.37 crore |
| Mo Panchayati Raj Share | ₹151.47 crore |
| State Share (MoPR component) | ₹52.15 crore |
| Key Focus Areas | Institutional strengthening, policy integration, capacity building, awareness generation, coordination mechanisms |
| Capacity Building Targets | PRIs, SDMAs, DDMAs, and local community stakeholders |
| Funding Released under SDRF (FY 2025–26) | ₹16,118 crore to 28 States |
| Funding Released under NDRF (FY 2025–26) | ₹2,854.18 crore to 18 States |
| Funding Released under SDMF | ₹5,273.60 crore to 21 States |
| Funding Released under NDMF | ₹1,423.06 crore to 14 States |
| Long-Term Vision | Disaster-resilient India aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance vision |
| Official Source | Press Information Bureau (PIB), Delhi |
| Date of PIB Release | 16 December 2025 |
