Months after state announced financial assistance to the kin of Covid victims the Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the family of each Covid dead would be awarded an ex gratia of Rs 50,000 and that the states would pay the money from the state disaster relief funds (SDRFs).
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recommended that Rs 50,000 be given to the kin of those who died due to Covid-19 the Central government informed the Supreme Court.
The Centre said the ex-gratia assistance will also be given to the kin of those who died of the virus due to involvement in Covid-19 relief operations or activities associated with the preparedness for dealing with the pandemic.
The Centre said the ex-gratia assistance will be given subject to the cause of death being certified as Covid-19.
The government added this will be done as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The apex court on September 3 had criticized the Central government over the delay in framing guidelines regarding compensation to kin of those who died due to Covid-19 and said the third wave would be over by the time guidelines were framed.
“By the time you will take steps, even the third wave (of Covid-19 pandemic) will be over. Our orders directing correction of death certificates was passed long back. You had agreed to file a response on our directions by today. We will now grant you a last opportunity,” said an apex court bench of Justices MR Shah and Aniruddha Bose.
The apex court had in its June 30 order said the Centre was required to pay ex-gratia compensation for Covid-19 deaths since Covid-19 was declared a notified disaster under the 2005 Act.