Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) The Delhi government Wednesday decided to raise the ex-gratia amount paid to bereaved families in cases of natural or man-made disasters, a revision that comes after over five years.

The decision was taken by the cabinet meeting, headed by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The amount was last revised in September 2004.

“The revision is justified because of inflation and extent of damage being caused due to large-scale fire incidents, building collapse and other eventualities,” Dikshit said.

She also said the enhanced amount will come into force after the notification is issued.

The ex-gratia amount to bereaved families who have lost their family member due to bomb blasts, communal riots and other riots and terrorist attacks has been increased from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.3 lakh if the victim is major. In case of a minor, the amount is increased from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.1.5 lakh.

If the victim is crippled in a riot or accident the amount has been hiked from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.1.5 lakh, if it is a serious injury, the ex-gratia is raised from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh, while for minor injury the amount will go up from Rs.5,000 to Rs.10,000.

For those who lose their family in fire and other accidents caused by individual or natural calamity there has been 100 percent increase in ex-gratia amount.

“In case of death of a major, the amount in fire accident or in other natural calamity the ex-gratia provision has been increased from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.2 lakh. As for minor it has been increased from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh, if a victim it is critically injured the amount provide via ex-gratia is Rs.50,000, which was earlier Rs 20,000. For minor injury the amount has gone up from Rs.1,000 to Rs.10,000,” the statement said.

Apart from this a special ex-gratia amount of Rs.1 lakh is been allotted for orphaned children in any kind of disaster.

For damage of residential units in riots, fire, natural calamity other than shanties the amount has been increased by 125 percent.

“If a residence has been totally damaged the ex-gratia provided would be Rs.50,000 instead of Rs.20,000. If the building is partially damaged the amount will be Rs.25,000 from Rs.10,000. For minor damages the amount settled will be Rs.5,000,” the Delhi government statement said.