Covid deaths: State machinery gears up for ex-gratia distribution
To distribute Rs 50,000 as an ex-gratia amount for each death claimed by the Covid19 pandemic, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra has begun its preparations. It is expected that in the next 8 to 10 days, the next kin of the victim will be receiving this amount. The state department of public health issued orders recently specifying details of the district level grievance redressal committee to address complaints or issues arising out of it. The state department of relief and rehabilitation has also instructed the district collectors to create awareness among people.
The Supreme Court (SC) on October 4 ordered that the distribution of ex-gratia should begin within a week. It was issued on October 13 by additional chief secretary of the health department Pradeep Vyas to prevent violation of the SC directive. In the rush to meet the deadline set by the Supreme Court, the state department of relief and rehabilitation had ordered the district collectors on October 12 to kickstart the process. The district authorities, instead, asked for a signed copy of the orders which were missing.
Orders issued without signature
Though the orders were mailed from the official e-mail address with a message on the letterhead of the principal secretary, the district machinery was in a fix. A letter, signed by the secretary, was demanded by almost all of them to comply with.
The SC has while giving the directions asked the states to make people aware of the distribution of ex-gratia by issuing advertisements. Such advertisements could not be distributed in the absence of clarity in orders. Meanwhile, the state government has been asked to pay the ex-gratia amount from the state disaster relief fund through a written communication by the central government.
Entire process to be online
About 1.38 lakh deaths have been reported in the state due to Coronavirus. Therefore, it is estimated that the state may require Rs 700 crore for the ex-gratia amount. This amount will be deposited directly in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The entire process will be completed online, from submission of the applications to distribution of the amount. It is estimated that it will take at least three weeks to complete the process.
RTPCR report will be a crucial document
While giving the approval, the state has decided to verify the RTPCR test reports of the deceased and details of the Aadhaar card. According to the sources from the health department Aadhar card was mandatory for the RTPCR tests but some of the tests were done without linking the details. Besides, the criteria set by the union ministry of health and the Indian Medical Council will be used to record Covid deaths.
The record of almost all the patients is available with the government as well as the private hospitals. But some patients have preferred to be treated at home without getting admitted into hospitals. In some of the cases patients have succumbed to the ailments at home. In such cases, RTPCR test report will be mandatory and death should have taken place within 30 days from the RTPCR test. In a significant number of cases death certificates have also been issued.
The district-level grievance redressal committees will be headed by the district collector with the district civil surgeon as its member secretary. The dean of the state-run medical college from the district, the district health officer and a medical practitioner will be the members of the committee.
Cities with municipal corporations will have committees for each administrative zone. It will be headed by the municipal deputy commissioner of the concerned area along with the medical officer as its member secretary. Mandate given to the committees says that any grievance lodged should be sorted out within 30 days of time.