Circle Union writes to NFPE to appraise Directorate for expeditious settlement of compensation of Rs.10 lakh to cover death due to COVID-19 in relaxation of existing guidelines

No. P3NFPE-Odisha/08 - 07/2020

Dated at Bhubaneswar the 30^th July, 2020

To,

Com. R N Parashar

Secretary General, NFPE

North Avenue P O Building, New Delhi – 110 001

Sub:-  Expeditious settlement of compensation of Rs.10 lakh to cover death due to COVID-19 in relaxation of existing guidelines - reg

Ref:-   Directorate letter No. 100 – 4 / 2020 – Pen, Dated 17.04.2020 and No.100 – 4 / 2018 - Pen, Dated 01.06.2018

Respected Comrade,

            Inviting your attention towards the Directorate letters referred to above, we would like to suggest as follows for expeditious settlement of compensation of Rs.10 lakh to cover death due to COVID-19 in relaxation of the existing guidelines.

Para – 7 (a) of the guidelines annexed to Directorate letter dated 01.06.2018 directs the dependents of the victim to make application to the Designated Officer within a period of 90 days with several documents like proof of age of the victim, Death Certificate of the victim, copy of FIR and proof of applicant’s relationship with the victim etc.

In this context, our suggestion is that proof of age is not at all required since it is already in the service record of the employee who died in harness.

Secondly, insisting upon Death Certificate is a time consuming factor during this pandemic situation since offices are not functioning full-fledged. The Doctor’s Certificate of the COVID Hospital is the sufficient proof to process the file.

Thirdly, when the entire family is in distress due to sad demise of the employee, it may be inhumane to ask the dependents to apply. Presently, we are also in practice of paying existing immediate financial assistance on behalf of the Department to the family member of the deceased employee without any application. In similar manner, it would be better if the Department collects the application from the widow / widower or any other eligible family members from the door point as a mark of respect to the deceased COVID-19 Warrior in addition to delivering a condolence message. As such, if the Department really wants to honour these COVID-19 Warriors in real sense, it should it should be initiated from Department’s side. However, at the time of payment, the Department may insist upon the undertaking and other certificates required if any. 

It may kindly noted that nothing has progressed yet against 1^st COVID-19 death case of Odisha Circle which happened on 18.07.2020 (Girija Prasad Dash, PA, Parlakhemundi HO under Rayagada Division of Berhampur Region) on the plea of non-submission of application by the widow with required documents.

Therefore, it is requested to appraise the Directorate to relax the guidelines as suggested above for expeditious settlement of compensation of Rs.10 lakh to cover death due to COVID-19 for paying proper regards to the deceased warriors of COVID-19.

With regards.

Comradely yours,

(Bruhaspati Samal)

Circle Secretary