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Ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh per Covid victim not possible, says Centre

By:  Tupaki Desk   |   20 Jun 2021 8:37 AM GMT
Ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh per  Covid victim not possible, says Centre
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The Central Government has made it clear that it was not possible to give an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of those who died due to Covid 19. It said that it if ex-gratia is to be given to every Covid victim's kin, the Centre would be left with no funds for Covid relief and treatment works. The Centre has said this while filing an affidavit in reply to a public interest litigation filed in the Supreme Court demanding Rs 4 lakh for every affected family

The Central Government has categorically stated that such ex-gratia would be given only in case of natural calamities like floods and earthquake. According to the government statistics, as many as four lakh people have died due to Covid. If all these affected families were to be given ex-gratia at the rate of Rs 4 lakh per family, the whole of the National Disaster Relief Fund amount would be spent on giving ex-gratia alone. No other works could be taken up because of this. The Central government said that the government cannot take up works like flood relief, cyclone relief and supply of medicines during calamities.

The Central Government has released Rs 1113.21 crore to all the state governments for covid control during the financial year 2019-20. These funds were provided under the National Health Mission, the Central Government told the Supreme Court.