According to the Supreme Court’s order, the publication is to be made within one week from the date of order i.e. October 4, 2021. However, the Supreme Court’s order is not complied with by the Government of Manipur, Keisam Pradipkumar said.
TFM Desk
A representation has been submitted to the government of Manipur to start payment of ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 50,000/-to the next of kin of the deceased by Covid-19.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary& Chairman, State Executive Committee of the State Disaster Management Authority, Government of Manipur, Manipur Secretariat, one Keisam Pradipkumar of Wangkhei Ayangpalli Road sought implementation of the Supreme Court’s order dated October 4, 2021 directing payment of Rs 50,000 as ex-gratia assistance to the next of kin of the deceased by Covid-19.
In the order passed in Miscellaneous Application No. 1120 of 2021 in W.P.(C) No. 539 of 2021 (Gaurav Kumar Bansal-Versus-Union of India & others), the Supreme Court of India directed that the next of the kin of the deceased died due to Covid-19 shall be paid ex-gratia assistance of an amount of Rs. 5O,OOO. The amount shall be treated as ex-gratia payment under Section 12 (iii) of the DMA, 2005. It shall be over and above the compensation/amount to be paid by the Union of India/State Governments/Union Territories to be declared/ provided under different benevolent schemes, said the order.
The ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 50,000/-shall be provided by the concerned States from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF and shall be disbursed by the District Disaster Management Authority / District Administration, said the SC order.
The SC order further said that the full particulars and address of the District Disaster Management Authority / District Administration who is required to disburse the ex-gratia assistance shall be published in the Print Media and Electronic Media and wide publicity shall be given; that the same shall be published within a period of one week from today.
In his letter, Keisam Pradipkumar claimed that on enquiry he came to know that full particulars and address of the District Disaster Management Authority/District Administration of 16 districts of Manipur, who is required to disburse the ex-gratia assistance is not published in the print and electronic media till date.
According to the Supreme Court’s order, the publication is to be made within one week from the date of order i.e. October 4, 2021. However, the Supreme Court’s order is not complied with by the Government of Manipur, he added.
Keisam Pradipkumar stated that as per SC order, the Government of Manipur is required to constitute committees for each and every district of Manipur consisting of Additional District Collector, Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), Additional CMOH/Principal or HOD Medicine of Medical College (if one existing in the district) and a subject expert in order to entertain any grievance with regard to certification of the death.
“The committees are to be formed and published in print and electronic media within one week from the date of order i.e. 4th October 2021. However, no such committee has so far been formed in Manipur in clear violation of the directions issued by the SC,” he added.
Stating that the non-publication of the particulars of the authority and the district level committee, several next of kin of the covid-19 death could not get ex-gratia assistance is a serious lapses on the part of the State Government while dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Keisam Pradipkumar sought state government’s immediate attention on the subject.