Delhi govt approves Rs 1 cr compensation for families of martyrs

The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday re-approved its plan of providing Rs 1 crore compensation to the kin of martyrs belonging to the national capital. Under the scheme, a member from the family of the dead will also be given a job in the Delhi government if the Centre does not offer a job. The offer covers Delhi-based security personnel from all the three services of the armed forces, Delhi Police, paramilitary forces, fire service, home guards and the district disaster force personnel.

The scheme will also cover war-disabled, war prisoners and those missing in the war. "As a token of respect to the forces, the Cabinet has approved Rs 1 crore compensation to the immediate kin of this personnel who die in the line of duty," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

The scheme, launched in April 2015, was stalled by the then LG Najeeb Jung. "In the past three years, no such family of martyrs has been given the compensation. At least 10 cases are pending before us," Kejriwal said. "We will give Rs 50,000 per month to the family of those who went missing in the wars," he said. A threemember ministerial group will be formed, headed by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who will take a call on these matters. CM Kejriwal also asked the Narendra Modi government to implement a similar scheme.

The cabinet statement noted: "The applicability of the Scheme for various categories of beneficiaries shall be with effect from the date when the original Cabinet Decision with respect to those categories of beneficiaries was taken on 1st April 2015. The Cabinet approved the proposal first in April 2015 and then revised it twice in 2016.

Now, it has again been approved by the cabinet with some more additions.