Covid ex-gratia: List of those who haven’t received payment to be prepared

Thiruvananthapuram: The list of all those who haven’t received and haven’t applied for the ex-gratia of Rs 50,000, provided to families of those deceased by Covid, will be prepared in all districts. 

Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has directed the district collectors not to delay the ex gratia payment over the hold-up in submitting bank account details. Arrangements will be made to give the amount in cash to those who cannot submit the bank account number. If the kin of the deceased is bedridden, then the next closest relative can be given the amount based on the report of the revenue officers. 

If the kin is living abroad and a relative living in the state is assigned by that person, then the amount can be transferred to them. 

If those deceased by Covid have more than one heir, the amount will be transferred to one person assigned by them after an investigation by the Revenue Department. 

According to the statistics of the Health Department, 68,130 people died of Covid till Monday. 59,862 people have received the ex gratia payment so far. A total of 63,536 applications were received, out of that 61,239 applications were accepted. 

Request for ex gratia should be given within two months 

KSDMA has instructed those concerned to submit the application for ex gratia within two months. The applications for those who died before March 22, 2022 should be submitted within two months starting from March 24. This instruction was issued based on the Supreme Court verdict about the same. 

For those who died after March 22, 2022, their kin must apply within 90 days of demise. According to the instruction issued, a decision regarding the application must be taken within 30 days. Those who are unable to apply within this time frame may approach the complaints redressal committee.