Covid deaths: Darj district releases ex-gratia for families

SNS, SILIGURI,16 DECEMBER 2021: The Darjeeling district administration has disbursed more than Rs 1 crore as ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 each to more than 200 families who lost their loved ones to Covid19 so far.

According to the West Bengal Covid- 19 health bulletin, 549 people died in the district from the disease till 14 December.

The Supreme Court has approved Rs 50,000 as ex-gratia to the next of kin of those who died of Covid- 19. The amount is being paid from the state disaster relief fund.

Darjeeling district magistrate S Ponnambalam said the district administration had already started disbursing the amounts.

"We have so far provided ex-gratia assistance to around 230 persons. Applications are verified and accordingly the amount is disbursed," Mr Ponnambalam said.

A senior administrative officer said 234 persons had received the payment of Rs 1.17 crore.

"We have provided Rs 1.17 crore as ex-gratia to 234 relatives of people who died of Covid-19. Most of the residents are from the Hills so far. The amount has been transferred to their bank accounts. Covid claimed many people from the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area, Matigara and Naxalbari blocks under the Siliguri Sub Division, and we are expecting more applications," said a senior administrative officer.

District authorities said that the number of applications is likely to go up. The officials said the claimants were generally getting the amount within four-five days of the date of applications.

The department of disaster management & civil defence, West Bengal government, has already issued a guideline for the ex- gratia payment.

Deaths occurring within 30 days from the date of release from the hospital will be treated as deaths due to Covid- 19, an official explained.

The claimants should obtain a death certificate, 'medical cause of death' certificate, along with the legal heir certificate or an affidavit from a magistrate or the notary public, his/her elector's photo identity card or Aadhar card, and no-objection certificates from other relatives.

Sources said if necessary the officials were verifying thoroughly the information provided by the applicants.

The officials, however, underlined that many families living in ruraI are as hardly had any document to substantiate the Covid deaths of their family members, although the deaths were caused due to the disease.

"There are no specific guidelines on this matter so far. We are hoping instructions on such issues will be issued soon," they said.