NEW DELHI: Compensation to families of the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots is likely to be increased substantially.

Two high-power committees, set up by the Union Home Ministry in August to look into their rehabilitation, have taken a "liberal view." Theyhave almost finalised their findings and their reports will be put up before the Cabinet by this month-end, said senior Ministry officials.

If the proposals got Cabinet approval, the Government could raise the compensation for each killing to Rs. 8 lakhs-10 lakhs. For loss of shops and business establishments, each businessman or trader could hope to get Rs. 10 lakhs-15 lakhs.

The committees took note of the fact that the highest compensation of Rs. 3.5 lakhs was paid in Delhi in 1996. They took the view that interest for the past 20 years should also be taken into account for any semblance of uniformity in compensation packages, sources said.

Several Sikh organisations made submissions before the committees, headed by D.K. Sankaran, Secretary (Border Management), and K.P. Singh, Special Secretary (Home). While the Sankaran Committee looked into matters of employment and rehabilitation, the Singh panel was entrusted with working out a formula for bringing uniformity in the compensation package.

The committees were set up in the wake of the tabling of the Nanavati Commission report on the riots in Parliament on August 8. They were asked to submit their reports within two months, which expired mid-October.

"Punish the guilty in Kanpur"

On Wednesday, Kuldip Singh, former Congress MLC from Uttar Pradesh and head of the All-India Guru Singh Sabha, which represents Sikhs outside Delhi and Punjab, met party president Sonia Gandhi and demanded action against guilty officials in Kanpur, which was most affected in the 1984 riots. He said nearly 250 persons were killed and property worth crores was destroyed in the industrial town.

Pointing out that action was taken against Congress leaders in Delhi, Mr. Singh said the Uttar Pradesh Government, on the other hand, was promoting the then Collector of Kanpur, who was indicted by the Justice Rangnath Mishra Committee.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail