Yashoda Devi, a 32-year-old mother of three from Jharkhand, is facing serious challenges in securing insurance and fair compensation after the death of her husband, Ganesh Karmali, in a terrorist attack in Niger.

According to a report by the New Indian Express, Karmali, 39, a resident of Karipani village in Gomia block of Bokaro district, was working at a World Bank-funded power transmission site managed by Transrail Lighting Ltd, an Indian company involved in overseas infrastructure projects. He was killed on July 15 in a crossfire between police and terrorists in the Dosso region of the West African country.

Another Indian worker, Krishna Gupta from Uttar Pradesh, also died in the attack. A third employee from Jammu and Kashmir, who was working as the company’s safety manager, was abducted.

Karmali’s body was brought back to India on Sunday evening.

Family alleges disparity in compensation

Yashoda Devi says the company offered only Rs10 lakh in compensation, which she believes is inadequate for her family's needs.

"Karmali was the sole earning member in the family. Besides three children, we also have to look after two elderly parents. I am not able to understand how to run the family with the meagre compensation amount, she said. Devi became ill after her husband’s body arrived home.

Her 17-year-old daughter, Sapna Kumari, who is currently a student of class 11, pointed out a troubling disparity, alleging that Krisha’s family was paid a compensation of Rs 27 lakh.

"When we asked about the disparity, a company employee said that compensation is provided based on position. My father was a foreman in the firm. Is he entitled to only Rs 10 lakh? When we posed this question to a company's employee, he did not reply," she said.

Missing insurance coverage

Adding to their struggle, Sapna said her father had told them he had a life insurance policy worth 40 lakh in case of accidental death. However, the family has received nothing under that policy and are unable to locate the paperwork.

"Since we don’t have the insurance documents, no one — neither the company nor the local authorities — is helping us," Sapna said.

State to provide compensation, company seeks documents

Karmali was employed by Transrail Lighting Ltd, confirmed Ranji Kumar, the Labour Superintendent of Bokaro. He stated that the district labour office had submitted a formal request to the company, seeking Rs 50 lakh in compensation for the family.

“However, we don’t have the power to enforce this. If the family can provide the insurance papers, we can help them approach the labour court,” Kumar reportedly told the media.

In the meantime, the Jharkhand state government is expected to provide Rs 5 lakh to the family under the International Migrant Workers' Security Scheme.

(with PTI inputs)