Shimla – BJP national president and Union Minister JP Nadda patted his own back while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for approving a ₹2006.40 crore package under the Recovery and Reconstruction Plan to help Himachal Pradesh tackle the aftermath of the devastating 2023 and 24 floods, landslides, and cloudbursts.
But behind this celebratory tone, the ground reality in the hill state tells a starkly different story — one of slow relief, broken homes, and residents still waiting for help over a year after the disaster struck.
“Devbhoomi faced nature’s fury last in 2023-24. For this generous aid, I express my heartfelt gratitude to PM Modi and HM Amit Shah,” Nadda said, adding that the central assistance will be a “major support system” for the disaster-hit.
The approval was granted by a high-level committee headed by Home Minister Amit Shah, and comes under the Centre’s push to build a Disaster Resilient India.
The ₹2006 crore is meant to aid relief and long-term rebuilding in the hill state — but the announcement has triggered more questions than celebrations among citizens, local NGOs, and opposition leaders.
Aid on Paper, Misery on Ground
While BJP leaders – from former CM Jairam Thakur and MP Anurag Thakur to ex-CMs Prem Kumar Dhumal and Shanta Kumar – rushed to hail the Centre’s move, locals in districts like Samej, Rampur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, and Solan say they’ve seen little help beyond photo-ops and promises so far.
“It’s been over months. Our homes were washed away in the monsoon fury, but we’re still living in tin sheds,” said Kamla Devi, a flood survivor in Samej Rampur.
“We don’t need thank-you speeches. We need roads, homes, and safety.”
The slow pace of house reconstruction, pending compensation claims, and missing transparency in fund disbursal have come under increasing scrutiny.
Many allege that while leaders issue press releases and share figures, the money trickles down to the affected families slowly.
Opposition Questions Timing, Intent
Congress leaders in the state, including Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, have repeatedly slammed the Centre for delaying aid last year when the state was reeling under calamity.
They say this latest aid package is little, too late – and more about political mileage.
“The Centre watched silently when the hills cried for help. Now, just before the rains return, they’re suddenly generous,” said a senior Congress leader, calling it a “damage control move.”
Even within bureaucratic corridors, questions are being raised about whether the new aid will suffer the same fate as past packages — caught in red tape, misused by contractors, or lost in the lack of a district-wise audit.
Big Picture, Bigger Promises
According to government data, for FY 2024–25, the Centre released ₹20,264.40 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to 28 states, and ₹5,160.76 crore under NDRF to 19 states.
But disaster experts warn that funds alone cannot make India disaster-resilient unless states strengthen their local response systems, ensure transparent fund utilization, and work with climate scientists to redesign infrastructure.
Until then, the ₹2006 crore may look good in press conferences – but for the common Himachali, it’s still just another number on paper.
#HimachalDisasterRelief #ReliefDelayedJusticeDenied #PaperFundsGroundZero
