Meghalaya has received Rs 52.80 crore as State Disaster Response Fund during the current financial year to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of those who died due to Covid-19.
It may be mentioned that till today, the total number of persons who died due to Covid-19 in Meghalaya is 1475.
The Central government has released both the installments of its share of the State Disaster Response Fund during the current financial year.
According to data, out of the total allocation of Rs 58.40 crore for Meghalaya, the Central share is Rs 52.80 crore while the State share is Rs 5.60 crore.
In the first installment released on May 1, the State was released Rs 26.40 crore as State Disaster Response Fund. A similar amount was also released in the second installment on October 2 this year.
Based on the guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on September 11, the ex-gratia payment to next of kin of the deceased due to Covid-19 is allowed at Rs 50,000 per deceased person including those involved in relief operations or associated in preparedness activities, subject to the cause of death being certified as Covid-19, in strict compliance with the NDMA guidelines.
This ex-gratia assistance will be applicable from the date of first Covid-19 case reported in the country and will continue till de-notification of Covid-19 as a disaster or till further orders, whichever is earlier.
It may be mentioned that on September 22, the Centre submitted before the Supreme Court that the next of kin of those who died of Covid-19 will get Rs 50,000 compensation from the state governments. The Centre also informed the court that the compensation will be paid for any future deaths as well.
The government told the top court that states will source the funds from their disaster response funds and will channel it through the District Disaster Management Authority or the district administrations. The disbursement is to be made following claims by next of kin of the deceased and the claims are to be finalised within 30 days.