Officials make last-ditch efforts to reach out to kin of Covid victims in Patiala district

Tribune News Service

Karam Prakash

Patiala, July 2

The Health Department is making a final attempt to make sure that the remaining bereaved families of Covid victims apply for Rs 50,000 compensation in time.

Officials of the Health Department said, “July 5 is the last date to apply for the compensation. Officials of the Health Department are going house-to-house to facilitate the kin of the Covid victims in applying for relief in time.”

It has been learnt the department has directed senior medical officers of each block of the district to reach out to the families of the Covid victim asking them to apply for financial assistance. The kin have to submit the application in the SDM office.

As per records, 1,571 applications were received for the ex gratia. However, the Health Department had notified around 1,457 Covid deaths. Of 1,457 deaths, 1,217 families had already been provided with the compensation money. As many as 240 cases of notified Covid deaths are still pending.

As many as 290 Covid deaths, other than the notified list, were considered by the Covid Death Ascertaining Committee (CDAC) and had already been given compensations. Dr Sumeet Singh, member, CDAC, said that around 290 Covid deaths had been considered after the Supreme Court made changes in the criteria of declaring a Covid death. He said, “Some families of the Covid death victims have not applied for compensation. We are reaching out to them so as to make them get the compensation.”

He said the state government had provided ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 to 86.7 per cent of the Covid deaths in the district.

240 cases pending

As per records, 1,571 applications were received for the ex gratia. However, the Health Department had notified around 1,457 Covid deaths. Of 1,457 deaths, 1,217 families had already been provided with the compensation money. Around 240 cases of notified Covid deaths are still pending.

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