Should defence forces be paid for their help in times of natural disaster?

Amid Kerala flood fury, there is a fair lot of discussion about whether the defence forces ought to be paid by the state governments concerned or not for the massive support they offer. The issue centres around whether the forces go beyond their call of duty when they are engaged in helping central or state governments to help out when there is a disaster.

A study of the Budget of the government of India over successive years shows that there has never been any payment made to the Army by a state or central government department for this. Since any such