States To Give Ex Gratia Of Rs 50,000 From SDRF For Covid-19 Deaths: Centre Tells SC

The Centre said the ex-gratia assistance will be given subject to the cause of death being certified as Covid-19.

(Representative Image/Getty)

New Delhi: The Central government informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday 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 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 Centre further said the ex-gratia assistance will be provided by the states from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), PTI reported.

The apex court had earlier on September 3 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.

The apex court, however, did not fix the quantum of compensation and left it to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to fix the amount while framing the guidelines within six weeks. This was further extended by four weeks on August 16.