GUIDELINES FOR RELIEF NORMS AND ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES

1. Our country is multi-disaster prone and our foremost aim is to be in a position of preparedness to save life and property. Damages to life and property are the aftermath of any disaster. In order to extend relief and extend succours to the affected people, the Government is duty bound to extend all types of financial assistances and help to the suffering victims so as to bring them back to normal life. Such assistance as Gratuitous Relief and Housing Subsidy being currently extended by this Administration was based on the norms fixed by the Government of India.

2. For incurring expenditure from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) and the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF), the Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi has permitted the Government of Puducherry to follow the norms/ceilings as laid down by the Government of India in the matter of payment of ex-gratia relief to the victims of natural calamity from CRF and NCCF. Accordingly, the Govt. of Puducherry has issued orders from time to time which are a guideline in the matter of payment of ex-gratia. The Govt. of Puducherry has issued an order under G.O. Rt. No.1, dated 05.04.2012 of the Dept. of Revenue & Disaster Management (Annexure XIV).
ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES

3. Damage assessment is the responsibility of the district/local administration which covers all aspects of private as well as public properties, including loss of crops etc., An inventory of all such details is prepared along with the estimated costs of damages and sent to the State Government who may release funds from the Calamity Relief Fund for distribution of assistance at the prescribed norms.

4. If the calamity is found to be beyond the capability of the State Government to meet from CRF, then a memorandum detailing the damages caused and the help required is sent to the Central Government. The Central Government may, after examination, decide to depute a Central Team to make an “on the spot” assessment of damages caused by the calamity. They arrive at their own conclusion after visits to the affected areas and arrive at a certain figure required to meet the calamity. Thus the final figures of damage assessment is that of the State Government when they do not call the Central Government for assistance but where they do call; the final figure of damages is that of Central Team. It forms the basis for distribution of assistance at the prescribed norms. If the State Government does not fall in line with the Centre’s Assessment, they assist as per their own assessment, but funding has to, in that case, come from the state’s own resources

5. Providing of food, clothing, temporary shelters, medical assistance etc., are the immediate relief measures in any disaster occurred area. However, reconstruction and rehabilitation is the long term relief measures which has to be provided only based on the survey of damages and as such, assessment of damage plays a vital role in rebuilding the disaster affected community. The damages is not only to the life and property of the human being but also to livestock, agriculture, plantation, road, water supply, electricity, other infrastructure facilities, etc., This paper work of damage assessment is very much helpful for the compensation proceeding and the Govt. of India has issued a set of Proforma in a simplified form to assess the various types of damages in a quick and easy way. The various Proforma are at Annexure XIV. The officials of the concerned line departments while assessing the damage shall use the relevant proforma invariably during their assessment process.