Delhi CM: families of 17 ‘COVID warriors’ to get ₹1 cr. each
The Hindu
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal approves ₹1 crore compensation to families of 17 COVID-19 warriors who died while executing pandemic-related duties. 73 families have received similar compensation so far. Delhi BJP welcomes the announcement but accuses CM of politicising the matter.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday approved compensation of ₹1 crore each to families of 17 Delhi government employees who died after contracting COVID-19, while being deployed on pandemic-related duties.
The government said similar compensation has been awarded to families of 73 ‘COVID warriors’ to date.
“The Delhi government salutes such workers who have served relentlessly the citizens of Delhi. There is no compensation for anyone’s life, but I am hopeful that this financial assistance will provide some ease to their families,” the Chief Minister said. An official said the government will “soon” distribute the compensation to these 17 families.
The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the announcement, but accused the CM of “politicising the matter”.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, “It is sad to see that the CM is trying to portray that as if he was trying to give compensation, but someone was stopping. The CM should tell Delhiites when he first moved the compensation proposal.”
More than 2.6 lakh village and ward volunteers in Andhra Pradesh, once celebrated as the government’s grassroots champions for their crucial role in implementing welfare schemes, are now in a dilemma after learning that their tenure has not been renewed after August 2023 even though they have been paid honoraria till June 2024. Disowned by both YSRCP, which was in power when they were appointed, and the current ruling TDP, which made a poll promise to double their pay, these former volunteers are ruing the day they signed up for the role which they don’t know if even still exists