In response to recent discussions and queries, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the practice of declaring disasters as national disasters in India during a parliamentary session. Sitharaman clarified that historically, no state government in India, at any time, has announced any disaster as a national disaster.
Highlighting the historical context, Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out that even the catastrophic Tsunami of December 2004, which occurred during the UPA government’s tenure with the DMK as a partner, was not officially declared a national disaster. This statement dispels misconceptions and clarifies that such designations have not been a common practice, irrespective of the political landscape.
“Quoting a response from MoS Home Mullappally Ramachandran in August 2013, during UPA II with the DMK as a partner, Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that there is no provision in the guidelines to declare a natural disaster as a national disaster. This statement further supports the fact that the categorization of disasters at a national level is not a customary procedure”.
Nirmala Sitharaman also drew attention to a parliamentary query in May 2016, where the question of declaring a national disaster was raised. The response given at that time, according to Sitharaman, is self-explanatory and aligns with the understanding that such declarations are not part of the established guidelines.
The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s statements aim to provide clarity on the issue and address the growing interest, particularly in Tamil Nadu. The historical instances mentioned underscore the consistency in the approach towards disaster declarations at the national level.
The disclosure of these details by Nirmala Sitharaman during a parliamentary session serves to inform the public and dispel any misconceptions regarding the labeling of disasters as national disasters. The emphasis on historical instances, including the significant Tsunami of 2004, highlights the continuity in this approach across different political administrations.
