Poor response to Covid death relief

Dispur asks DCs to make people aware of Rs 50,000 relief to next of kin of each person died of Covid

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Most of the next of kin of those who died of Covid-19 in Assam have not applied for the Rs 50,000 relief. It has prompted the Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) department to ask the deputy commissioners to bring awareness among the masses on this relief scheme.

The State Government decided to pay a relief amount of Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of each of those who had died of the Covid-19 in the state. The decision came following a directive from the Supreme Court of India and approval from the Centre. However, the scheme has evoked a lukewarm response in the state.

The State Government has a special fund under the SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) for making such payments. The R&DM department released Rs 49 crore to the deputy commissioners, and the process for the release of an equal amount is progressing. The amount is to make relief payments to the next of kin of those who died of Covid-19, besides other Covid-related expenditures.

In a video conference with the deputy commissioners recently, the top officials of the R&DM department asked the district administrations to make people aware of the relief scheme for Covid deaths through advertisements locally.

According to R&DM department sources, people can apply either online through – https://cmcovidsupport.assam.gov.in or offline through deputy commissioner offices – with relevant documents. The scheme will continue till Covid-19 remains an epidemic in the state.

The NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) has issued guidelines to the State governments for implementing this relief scheme.

As of December 28, 2021, as many as 6,160 people died of Covid-19 in the state.

Also Read:   Assam Covid death: Next of kin to get Rs 1 lakh

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