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Ibobi accuses state government of hiding actual number of COVID deaths

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The leader of opposition also demanded Rs 4 lakhs as ex-gratia for the COVID victims. 

TFM Desk

Former chief minister and the leader of opposition of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Okram Ibobi Singh on Saturday demanded a detailed survey to create an authentic COVID-19 death register so that all those excluded can rightfully access compensation. He also demanded Rs 4 lakhs as ex-gratia for the COVID victims. 

In a letter to chief minister N Biren Singh, the opposition leader alleged that the government has gone to great lengths to hide the actual death numbers caused due to COVID-19. 

“We demand revising the COVID-19 death register with immediate effect. Negligence and inefficiency of the government during the first and second wave of the pandemic has cost several lives lost,” it added. 

On September 11, 2021, the Central government submitted a detailed affidavit in the Supreme Court mentioning that it will pay only Rs. 50,000 as ex gratia to the families of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Under the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) the compensation amount is shared by the Centre and State in 75%-25% respectively, Ibobi said in the letter. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the majority of the population in this country. People died untimely deaths, businesses have shut down, people have been forced to migrate. Families have lost their earning members and the out-of-pocket treatment expenses incurred in private hospitals during the pandemic have brought them to the streets. Families have lost all their savings and are in huge debts”.

At such difficult times, the meagre amount of Rs. 50,000 as ex gratia compensation is insufficient, the former chief minister argued. 

The central government has argued that giving 4 lakhs as compensation would leave the government with insufficient capital to deal with COVID-19 itself. 

“We cannot understand how the Central Government continues to collect taxes through rising petrol prices and provide tax relaxation to corporates, but can deny any such relief to the citizens”. 

Further, after COVID-19 was notified as a disaster under the NDMA by the Central government, the state government put down several norms and restrictions upon the citizens to ensure containment of the spread of the virus. Lockdown was instilled, people were heavily fined for not wearing masks and for not abiding by the COVID-19 protocols. But the norms of assistance, also mentioned under the norms of NDMA, as ex-gratia payment of 4 lakh compensation have not been met.

“As a welfare state, it is our responsibility to look after our citizens during times of need. We demand that the Central Government implements its earlier order notified on date 14th March, 2020, (33-4/2020-NDM-1) issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, where the Central Government made a commitment of disbursement of ex gratia payment of Rs. 4 lakhs per deceased. Later the Central Government revised this notification and reduced the ex-gratia payment to Rs. 50,000”. 

Ibobi maintained that at such times of distress it is imperative that special consideration should be made to fulfill the earlier commitment of 4 lakhs by the government. 

The SDRF norms require 75% of the 4 lakhs, which is 3 lakhs to be paid by the Central Government and remaining 25%, which is 1 lakh, to be the share of the state government. 

“We demand that you commit upholding the state governments’ share of the 4 lakhs ex gratia payment so that it pushes the Central government to fulfill its commitment to the affected citizens,” he asserted.

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