Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal okays ex gratia of Rs 1 crore for 17 health staff

New Delhi: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday approved an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore each to families of 17 workers who were deployed for COVID-19 duties and lost their lives during the pandemic.

"The Delhi government salutes such workers who have served relentlessly the citizens of Delhi. There is no compensation for anyone's life, but I am hopeful that this financial assistance will provide some ease to their families," said the CM.

"Their contribution will forever be etched in our hearts, this honorarium is our way of standing by their families and supporting them," he added.

The compensation is provided under a scheme, which was launched by the Delhi government for COVID warriors who died while on duty during the pandemic. It offers some financial security to the family members of the warriors. The government has given the amount to families of 73 other COVID warriors so far.

The Delhi government said that these people were working in hospitals and health facilities where employees were at high risk of infection. "Therefore, the doctors and paramedical staff working in government health facilities in treating the patients orinvolved in the treatment of COVID patients were considered on COVID duty," it added.

Among the COVID warriors was Krishan Pal, a stretcher bearer at Guru Nanak Eye Centre. He was involved in shifting patients from wards to the operation theatre. He died in April 2021. Rachel Joseph was working as a quality manager at Medeor Hospital. While she was rendering her services, there were COVID-19 patients admitted and getting treatment in the hospital. On June 17, 2020, she succumbed to the virus, said the government.

Vivek Kumar Bisht, a prosthetist at St Stephen's Hospital, was rendering services to patients and came in direct contact with a COVID-19 patient. He also used to go tothe wards to take measurements of orthosis for patients. He died in June 2020.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor welcomed the decision of theDelhi government to give Rs 1 crore as compensation to each of 17 corona warriors, but condemned the chief minister "for playing dirty politics on the matter".

"It is sad that Kejriwal has taken almost two years to give compensation to them andhe must explain the reasonfor the delay."