MAPUSA
On the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the biggest festivals in the State where families come together, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that compensation to families who lost their members to coronavirus will be released by September 13.
Sawant also said the government has made certain amendments to make the process to fill the Covid one-time compensation forms simpler, especially to people from the unorganized sector.
“The government has received approximately 200 applications from families whose members have died due to the Covid-19 infection. Their applications are being processed and by Monday (Sept 13) the amount will be deposited in their accounts,” Sawant said, while addressing his customary press briefing after a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Sawant also said that there was no need for people to wait for the death certificate as the government can verify the death.
The State government had notified a scheme under which one-time financial relief of Rs 2 lakh would be provided to the families of a person, who died due to Covid-19 infection, and whose income limit does not exceed Rs 8 lakh per annum.
In another decision, the State cabinet has suggested some changes in the application forms to claim Covid relief package for the unorganized sector.
“People claiming the Covid relief package will no longer have to give an affidavit as was required earlier but provide a self-declaration,” the CM said.
He said the government has also done away with the condition requiring only panchayat secretary to attest the forms and now any gazette officer who can identify the person from the unorganized sector can sign the form.
Further easing the process, the government has said the claimants can directly submit the forms with the BDO or officials of the social welfare department at taluka level.
“All those who have received sanction letters will get the financial relief today (Sept 9) evening. The government had assured it would provide Covid relief package before Chaturthi and we are committed to it,” Sawant said.
The State government had approved another scheme for providing one-time financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to workers from marginalised and unorganised sectors, who lost their livelihood due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
