COVID-19: Centre's modified order has no mention of Rs 4 lac ex-gratia to victims

New Delhi: Shortly after the Central government on Saturday notified coronavirus (Covid-19) as a ‘disaster’ and decided to provide ex-gratia relief of Rs 4 lakh to the families who died of the virus, it reissued a fresh “modified order” with no mention of any ex-gratia compensation. However in the updated order, which has been “partially modified”, there is no mention of any such compensation.

In a statement released on March 14, the government stated that an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh per deceased person, including those who are involved in relief operations or associated in response activities, will be provided to their families.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in a letter to states and union territories stated: “Keeping in view the spread of COVID-19 virus in India the declaration of it as pandemic by World Health Organisation, the central government has decided to treat it as a notified disaster and announced to provide assistance under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).”

As per the document, the cost of hospitalisation will be as per the rates fixed by the state governments. Measures were taken by the respective governments for quarantine, sample collection and screening include the provision of temporary food, accommodation, food, clothing, medical care, etc. for people affected and kept in quarantine centres.

Apart from the provision of basics, these measures also include the cost of consumables, support for checking, screening and contact tracing. As per the norms of assistance, a State Executive Committee (SEC) will decide the number of quarantine camps, their duration and the number of people per camp. The SEC can also extend the quarantine period beyond the prescribed limit.