India says ‘No’ to Aid Offer From UAE for Kerala

• 23 Aug 2018

The Government of India has said no to Rs. 700 Cr. aid offer from UAE for Kerala flood relief and rehabilitation. India has also refused similar help from Qatar, Thailand and Maldives.

India’s reason for refusal

• The policy of not accepting foreign aid was put in place by the central government after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. India had also denied foreign aid during Kashmir Earthquake in 2005, Uttarakhand floods in 2013 and Kashmir floods in 2014.
• Following the policy in place, the government will meet the relief and reconstruction needs of Kerala through domestic efforts only.
• India is looking at itself as an emerging power and at a role as net security and assistance provider in the region. Thus, being an emerging economy India is capable of dealing with natural calamities.
• Allowing foreign aid from one country will start outpour of foreign aids from other countries and it will be diplomatically difficult to deny the offer.

Can India Accept?

• The National Disaster Management Plan, 2016 clearly states that the Government of India does not issue any appeal for foreign assistance. However, Central Government can accept the offer considering the goodwill gesture of a foreign state in solidarity with disaster victim.

National Disaster Management Plan-2016

• The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) provides a framework and direction to the government agencies for all phases of the disaster management cycle.
• NDMP is designed to deal with all phases of disaster management:
  • Mitigation (prevention and risk reduction)
  • Preparedness
  • Response
  • Recovery (immediate restoration to build-back better)
• NDMP-2016 is in alignment with the goals and priorities set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.