Question : Compensation to Covid-19 Victims

(a) whether the Apex Court has directed the Government to pay compensation to deceased COVID victims, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has taken a decision to pay Rs. 50,000 ex-gratia to the next of kin, if so, the details thereof and the amount disbursed to States/UT/ district-wise including Satara in Maharashtra

(c) if not, the reasons for delay in paying ex-gratia payment to victims; and

(d) the estimated expenditure involved and the manner in which the Government has met or proposes to meet the expenditures; and

(e) the documents required to be submitted for getting the said compensation?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE
(DR BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (e): In pursuance of the Hon''ble Supreme Court Judgement dated 30th June 2021 in the Write Petitions (Civil) No. 554/2021 and No. 539/2021, Government of India through National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued ‘Guidelines to provide for ex-gratia assistance to kin of the deceased by COVID-19’.

NDMA has recommended an amount of Rs. 50,000/- per deceased person including those involved in relief operations or associated in preparedness activities, subject to cause of death certified as COVID-19.

The ex-gratia assistance shall be provided by States from State Disaster Response Funds. This assistance is required to be disbursed within a period of 30 days from the date of submitting the application to the concerned District Disaster Management Authority/ District Administration along with the proof of the death of the deceased due to COVID -19 and the cause of death certified as “Died due to COVID -19”.

Further, all the States have been advised to constitute Grievance Redressal for redressal of issues related to payment of ex-gratia in case of any dispute.

Death certificate indicating COVID-19 deaths either already issued prior to coming into force of these Guidelines or as ratified by the District Level Committee shall be treated as the valid document for considering any death as ‘death due to COVID-19’.