Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Three projects totaling Rs 725.62 crore have been authorized by a high-level committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the “expansion and modernization of fire services” in West Bengal, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. The committee has sanctioned Rs 147.76 crore for Chhattisgarh, Rs 201.10 crore for Odisha, and Rs 376.76 crore for West Bengal, according to a statement released on Monday. The Finance Minister, the Agriculture Minister, and the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog are all members of the high-level committee. For the “Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the states,” the Central Government has allotted Rs 5,000 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF); 15 states’ bids totaling Rs 2542.12 crore have already been approved.
“To fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a disaster-resilient India, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken several initiatives to ensure effective management of disasters in the country. A number of steps have been taken to prevent any extensive loss to life and property during disasters by strengthening the disaster risk reduction system in India,” the statement said.
This year, the states have already received more than Rs 21,026 crore of the allotted expenditure. According to the statement, these comprise Rs 14,878.40 crore distributed to 26 States by the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Rs 4,637.66 crore distributed to 15 States by the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), Rs 1,385.45 crore distributed to 11 States by the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF), and Rs 124.93 crore distributed to three States by the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF). To improve fire services in India, the Union Home Ministry started the Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States initiative in July 2023. Establishing additional fire stations, bolstering state training facilities, and supplying cutting-edge firefighting apparatus are among the scheme’s goals.
Additionally, it seeks to improve technology, establish and expand online systems, fortify state headquarters and urban fire stations, and encourage states to implement infrastructure-based and legislative changes. The program, which is being implemented on a cost-sharing basis with state governments contributing 25% of the total cost of projects, is based on suggestions made by the Fifteenth Finance Commission. Ten percent comes from the Northeastern and Himalayan (NEH) states.
