Covid deaths: Centre okays ex-gratia, state funds to cover it

What is the News?

The government of India has informed the Supreme Court that National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recommended an ex-gratia amount of Rs 50,000 for loss of life due to Covid-19.

Background

The Supreme Court of India had directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to recommend guidelines for giving ex gratia assistance to the families of persons who died of COVID-19 as mandated under Section 12 (iii) of the Disaster Management Act of 2005.

Note: Section 12 makes it mandatory for the NDMA to recommend guidelines for the “minimum standards of relief” to be provided to disaster victims. These include ex gratia assistance on account of loss of life.

Since coronavirus disease was declared as a notified disaster under the Disaster Management Act of 2005, the kin of people who died due to Covid would be entitled to ex-gratia compensation.

What are the guidelines prepared by the NDMA?

The NDMA has recommended an ex-gratia amount of Rs 50,000 for loss of life due to Covid-19.

The ex-gratia amount would be given provided that the cause of death is certified as COVID-19.

The amount will be provided by states from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and distributed by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) or the district administrations.

The compensation will also be paid for future Covid-related deaths as well.

Grievance Redressal

In case of grievances, it will be handled by district-level committees consisting of Additional District Collector, Chief Medical Officer of Health(CMOH), Additional CMOH or the Principal or Head of Department of Medicine at a Medical College (if one exists in the district) and a subject expert.

The committee will propose necessary remedial measures, including the issuance of amended official documents for COVID-19 death after verifying facts.

In case the decision of the committee is not in favour of the claimant, a clear reason for the same shall be recorded.

Source: This post is based on the following article

• “Covid deaths: Centre okays ex-gratia, state funds to cover it’”published in Indian Express on 23rd September 2021.
• “₹50,000 for each COVID death” published in The Hindu on 23rd September 2021.
• “Government fixes Rs 50,000 ex- gratia for kin of Covid victims” published in TOI on 23rd September 2021.