Delhi CM Launches Scheme & Portal To Provide Financial Assistance To Families Who Lost Members To Covid

"We have to ensure that we provide financial assistance to such families as soon as possible," CM Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday.

Photo: PTI

New Delhi: The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the 'Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Pariwar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana' and an online portal on Tuesday aiming to provide financial assistance to families who lost their loved ones to Covid-19. While making the announcement he emphasized that people who will be working for this scheme shouldn't stress out the family by pointing out faults and telling them that they aren't eligible for the scheme if they don't have a specific document at hand. 

Under this scheme, Rs 50,000 ex gratia will be given to every family that lost a member to COVID-19 and an additional Rs 2,500 per month will be given if the deceased was the sole breadwinner.

 While speaking to the press, CM Kejriwal said that while India as a whole suffered a second wave, Delhi saw the "fourth wave" during the April month of COVID-19 which affected almost every family and many people died.

"Many children were orphaned, many families lost their sole breadwinner. In such a case, being a responsible government, we conceptualised this scheme," he said.

"We are launching a portal through which such people can apply for financial assistance. Our representatives will also visit such families and get applications filled up," he added.

During the announcement, he said such representatives will not reject claims of families in case any document is missing and will instead facilitate the process by helping them get the required documents.

"I want to tell all such representatives not to conduct scrutiny of applications. If the families lack any documents, we will help them obtain them. We have to make sure that we make this happen. Don't find faults with their documents... don't make them unhappy, encourage them," Kejriwal said.

"We have to ensure that we provide financial assistance to such families as soon as possible," he added.

According to the notification from June 22nd over 'Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Pariwar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana', "The government will also consider a single member of the affected family to be enrolled as a civil defence volunteer. Besides, the state affirms to look after the health and education needs of the dependent children as per existing policy."

There is no income criterion to apply for financial assistance under the scheme. Children who lost their both parents or one parent to COVID-19 will also be provided Rs 2,500 per month till they turn 25 years old. The Delhi government will also provide free education to them, Kejriwal had said earlier.

"The deceased and dependent both should be from Delhi... Death should be certified as COVID-19 death or death within one month of testing Covid positive and verified by the health department as Covid death," the notification said.

"There are also many families where the earning member died due to COVID-19. Such families will be provided a monthly pension of Rs 2,500 besides the ex gratia of Rs 50,000," he had said in May 18th.