Itanagar, Nov 27: The Arunachal Pradesh government has approved  a grant of Rs 50,000(Fifty thousand) only from State Disaster Response Fund to the next of kin of deceased due to COVID-19 as per the laid down guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. An order to this effect has been issued by the Secretary Disaster Management Dani Salu on November 26.
As per the directions of the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare New Delhi had issued simplified guidelines for issuance of Death Certificate/ Official document stating the exact cause of death i.e, Death due to Covid-19 to the family members of deceased who died due to COVID-19.
Based on the said judgement, the National Disaster Management Authority, NDMA New Delhi issued guidelines for Ex- gratia payment for the next of kin of the deceased by COVID-19 under section 12(iii) of the Disaster Management Act 2005.
Further, the  guidelines of NDMA insists that DDMA will ensure that the process of claim, verification, sanction and final disbursement of ex- gratia payment will be through a simple people friendly procedure whereas the forms for claim shall be issued by the State Authority.
However, few conditions outlined for the process are: Ex-Gratia may be paid to the next of kin of the deceased due to COVID-19 subject to the condition that the deceased should either be the permanent resident of Arunachal Pradesh or death due to Covid should have occurred within Arunachal Pradesh if the deceased was not a permanent resident  of Arunachal Pradesh. However, those who have already claimed the relief ex-Gratia assistance from any other scheme either under GoI/ State/UT may not be eligible. 
Also, deaths occurring within 30 days from the date of testing or from the date of being clinically determined as COVID-19 case will be treated as death due to Covid even if the death takes place outside the hospital/ inpatient facility. However,  a COVID-19 case while admitted in the hospital/inpatient facility and who continue as the same beyond 30 days and died subsequently shall also be treated as COVID-19 death.
If the claim for cause of death are not clear, then it should be placed in the Grievances Redressal Committee / COVID-19 Death Ascertaining Committee, to be chaired by the ADCs of the respective districts.
Applications shall be addressed to respective DCs and only after proper verification, the claim shall be processed and granted by DDMA.
For detailed information, the copy of guidelines can be collected from the respective Deputy Commissioners Office.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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