The Delhi government came up with a good decision to pay a sum of Rs 1 crore in compensation to the families of members of the Indian armed forces, the police and paramilitary units who lose their lives in the line of duty in the national capital or anywhere in the country under a new policy sanctioned by the cabinet on Tuesday.
It is learnt that the new scheme will include personnel of the Delhi Fire Service, Home Guards and the district disaster management force also. The families from another states whose family members die in the line of duty in Delhi will also be qualified for the compensation. The announcement was made official by the state capital chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The proposal was earlier approved by the Delhi cabinet in April 2015, exactly two months after his Aam Aadmi Party shot into prominence for the second time in the capital, but unfortunately, it was rejected by then LG Najeeb Jung, who had specified that the compensation could be eligible only to Delhi residents.
However, Arvind Kejriwal emphasised that the scheme would be implemented quickly. “After the SC’s July 4 verdict, we will be sending just a copy of the cabinet decision to the LG. The scheme comes into effect from now and no concurrence of the LG is needed.
In the past three years, no such family of martyrs has been given the compensation because the scheme was stopped by the LG. Only five to six people had benefitted from the scheme. At least 10 cases are pending before us at the moment,” Kejriwal was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
According to the approved compensation policy, 1 member of the family of the deceased will be offered a job according to his/her educational qualifications in a Group C or Group D post under the Delhi government, considering the employment has not been offered by the central government or any other organisation.
Kejriwal further added that the compensation of Rs. 50,000 per month would also be awarded to the families of those missing in action or prisoners of war. “Rs 1 crore is nothing in front of their supreme sacrifices but it is just a token of respect…” The CM said a group of ministers led by deputy CM Manish Sisodia would process the compensation claims with immediate effect.
