New Delhi: The Delhi government has approved a remuneration increase of up to 100% for personnel working under the Delhi State Disaster Management Authority (DSDMA), in a move aimed at strengthening the capital's disaster preparedness and recognising staff who have not received a pay revision in 16 years.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the decision covers Project Officers (POs), District Project Officers (DPOs) and Project Coordinators (PCs), describing it as "long-overdue justice" for officials who have served as the backbone of Delhi's disaster management system since 2009.
According to the Chief Minister, the posts were created in 2009 with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Since then, the monthly remuneration remained unchanged at ₹25,000 for Project Officers and District Project Officers and ₹20,000 for Project Coordinators, despite rising inflation, expanding responsibilities and increasingly complex disaster management challenges.
Gupta said the positions were not linked to any regular government pay structure, meaning employees did not receive periodic pay revisions or Dearness Allowance (DA), unlike other government staff.
She said the revised remuneration structure is intended to establish a fair and competitive compensation system that reflects the personnel's responsibilities, technical expertise, experience and current operational demands, rather than serving as an ex gratia benefit.
The officials perform statutory duties under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, including preparing district disaster management plans, conducting scientific risk assessments, identifying vulnerable areas and communities, developing mitigation strategies, coordinating with multiple government agencies and managing Emergency Operation Centres during disasters.
Their responsibilities also include coordinating with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire Services, Police and Health Department, as well as organising training programmes, mock drills and capacity-building initiatives.
Gupta said remuneration for comparable positions in states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh is generally between ₹45,000 and ₹50,000 or higher, while similar contractual positions in other Delhi government departments also receive better pay.
She added that the government is considering additional welfare measures, including performance-based annual increments, medical coverage for employees and their families, and expanded opportunities for training and professional development.
According to the Chief Minister, the decision is intended not only to improve employee welfare but also to build a stronger, more modern disaster management system capable of protecting Delhi's estimated 32 million residents.
