Over 500 in Darjeeling district get Covid death ex-gratia

SNS, SIL1GURI, 17 JANUARY 22 : More than 500 people have received the Covid-19 ex-gratia in Darjeeling district so far, officials said.

The Darjeeling district administration has disbursed the ex-gratia compensation of Rs 50,000 to 547 families so far.

The Supreme Court has approved Rs 50,000 as such payment to t he next of kin of those who have died of Covid19, and has asked all state governments to hand over the amount. It is being paid from the state disaster relief fund.

According to a senior administrative officer, 234 persons had already received Rs 1.17 crore in total within 16 December. "The administration has approved the ex-gratia for 313 more people after that. We have sought more funds from the state government, according to the applications, and this is for 2,50 families till now," said an administrative official.

According to the West Bengal Covid- 19 health bulletin, 557 persons died from the disease in the district till 16 December last year. "There may be some more people who have died of Covid- 19, but they did not find a place in the list. Those people are also entitled to the ex-gratia.

The office of the district chief medical officer of health is verifying the deaths for the compensation. The eligibility of the ex-gratia also covers post Covid deaths. Deaths occurring within 30 days from the date of release from the hospital will be treated as deaths due to Covid-19. Therefore, there may he some differences in the list of the deceased," said a senior official.

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

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 certificate from other relatives.