The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP demands compensation policy for accident victims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 19, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

BJP demands compensation policy for accident victims

Staff Reporter

“Only seven out of 98 families compensated so far”

NEW DELHI: Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party president Harsh Vardhan on Thursday demanded that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announce a compensation policy for the Capital’s citizens who are killed or injured in road accidents.

He said such a policy has become necessary since a large number of people die in road accidents each year and the recent killings by Blueline buses have only added to the pain.

Stating that 98 people had already been killed by Blueline buses so far this year, he said of them only the family members of seven persons killed in the accident at Badarpur had been given a compensation of Rs.1 lakh each by the Delhi Government. “This amount is not sufficient for the family members. The amount of compensation should be increased,” he demanded.

Dr. Vardhan said the Government should announce a compensation policy for providing financial security to the family members of the victims of these accidents. “This policy of compensation for the victims of accidents should be framed on the lines of the Indian Railways so that people may be given compensation immediately after the accidents,” he said.

Lamenting that the Government announces compensation only when several people die in an accident, Dr. Vardhan said the family members of all the deceased suffer equal amount of pain and hardship. “They not only lose their close relatives but if that person is the only bread-earner of the family then the difficulties of the members of the family are further compounded,” he said, adding that “many families are now starving because they have lost their bread-earners in accidents, especially those involving Blueline buses”.

Emphasising the need for formulating a “safe transport policy”, the BJP leader said if any accident takes place the family of the deceased should be given at least Rs. 5 lakh in compensation. “Likewise, Rs. 2 lakh should be given to those disabled in mishaps and Rs.1 lakh to those who suffer injuries,” he added.

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