The Hindu : National : Ex gratia for Gujarat riot victims enhanced

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 21, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Ex gratia for Gujarat riot victims enhanced

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Assembly elections in Gujarat due this November-December, the Centre on Thursday enhanced ex gratia assistance and made Rs.70.55 crore available to the victims of 2002 communal violence in the State.

In the case of death, involving 1,169 cases, an ex gratia of Rs.3.5 lakh will be paid in addition to the assistance already given by the State government.

In case of injury, involving 2,548 cases, it will be Rs.1.25 lakh after deducting the assistance given by the State government.

The entire expenditure will be borne by the Central government. Only those who received ex-gratia earlier will be eligible for the enhanced additional amount.

All the claims will be verified by the local administration or agency of the State government.

In a letter sent last week, the Centre had asked the State Government to ensure that the claims were settled and the utilisation certificates sent to the Home Ministry within 45 days. “We are working on some other aspects of the enhanced package also,” Home Minister Shivraj Patil said.

Ministry officials said that “other aspects” would include compensation for uninsured commercial and residential properties destroyed in the riots and employment for the riot victims in the State.

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

National