Cabinet approves `5 lakh grant for cross-border firing victims

NEW DELHI: The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved a compensation of `5 lakh for the civilian victims of cross-border firing along the Indo-Pak border.

At present, there is no scheme to provide financial assistance to the victims of cross-border firing.

The cabinet has approved the grant of ` 5 lakh for the civilians who receive 50% or more disability due to ceasefire violations. The compensation money will be given to the next of kin if a person dies in the firing.

During the meeting that was headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the cabinet also increased the compensation for the family members of civilian victims of terrorist and communal incidents, left wing extremism (LWE) or mine or Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) blasts on Indian territory from ` 3 lakh to `5 lakh.

“From now onwards, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given `5 lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim,” the government said in a statement.

The government statement added that the issue of providing financial assistance to the victims of cross-border firing was first raised during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir in 2014.

The government, however, added that the compensation will be given only in those cases in which the state or central government has not provided employment to any of a victim’s family members.

AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF CROSS-BORDER FIRING