‘India may accept foreign donations’

NEW DELHI: As the row over accepting funds from foreign governments for flood-hit Kerala continues, a 2016 document prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on how to handle an emergency situation suggests that assistance offered by any other country as a goodwill gesture “may” be accepted by the central government.

The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), a publication of the NDMA, on planning framework for disaster situations, has noted that 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 NDMP says.

The handbook carries messages of PM Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

The NDMP says the Ministry of Home Affairs 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.

The document says in case of an offer of assistance from UN agencies, India will accept it only if the government considers it necessary.