New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) The Delhi government has taken a historic decision for the families of its employees who lost their lives while they were on Covid duty during the pandemic.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced that now the families of those Delhi government employees, the Covid heroes, will be granted an ex gratia amount of Rs 1 crore.
According to the CMO, the government will shortly release this assistance to the families of 10 such employees.
The CM said the process is underway, and a Group of Ministers’ committee is continuously working on it.
She emphasised that the contribution of those employees who passed away during their service in the pandemic will be remembered as one of the most selfless and inspiring chapters in the national Capital’s history.
Gupta said during the pandemic, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, sanitation workers, teachers, and other frontline employees of the Delhi government risked their lives and served the public selflessly.
When the entire world had come to a standstill out of fear of the pandemic, these employees carried on their duties day and night, ensuring that healthcare, sanitation, essential services, and other facilities continued without interruption.
She said their contribution would be etched in Delhi’s history as an inspiring legacy.
The government has also decided to approve and release the pending ex gratia payments of employees who were deployed on Covid duty during 2020-2021.
Soon, the amount will be handed over as recognition of the extraordinary service of the 10 employees who put service to society above their own lives during the most difficult period of the pandemic, she said.
Gupta asserted that the government is treating this matter with utmost seriousness, and pointed out that the previous administration, despite making many announcements, failed to act with the urgency that the situation demanded.
The CM noted with regret that the ex gratia payment meant as a gesture of respect and gratitude was held back for a long time due to procedural delays and other reasons.
However, she emphasised that no delay can ever diminish the value of the services rendered by the employees.
Gupta expressed condolences to the bereaved families and assured them that the government will provide ex-gratia support to all employees who lost their lives while serving during the Covid pandemic.
Ministers Ashish Sood, Kapil Mishra, and Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh will monitor the process, and they will be supported by senior officials from the Relief Branch, including Divisional Commissioner Neeraj Semwal and District Magistrate Amol Srivastava.
The CM added that this is not a one-time exercise, but a continuous process, and the committee is regularly reviewing such cases, and in the coming days, more families of employees are expected to receive the ex gratia payment.
She said that the ex gratia is more than a financial aid — “it is a token of gratitude, solidarity and justice”.
