Nearly 98% of India’s population is under some form of lockdown.

Puducherry CM announces lockdown relief of Rs 3000 for all families in UT

Chief minister N Rangasamy announced a lockdown relief of Rs 3000 for all families living in the Union Territory. “The amount will be given to alleviate the problems faced by the people during the lockdown period, Rangasamy said in a statement issued by the Chief Minister office.

The government has allocated Rs 105 crore for distributing the relief amount to 3,50,000 ration cardholders in the UT.

In the past few days, almost all political parties and leaders have urged the government to provide relief to the people, particularly the daily wage earners and others who are without any income due to the lockdown.

Several voluntary organisations and individuals as well as leaders of political parties have been distributing cooked food packets as well as groceries and vegetables to poor people during the lockdown period.

Tamilnadu CM announces Rs 5 lakh assistance to children who lost parents to Covid

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announces Rs 5 lakh assistance to children who lost both the parents due to #COVID19

Tata Steel to continue salary for families of employees who die of Covid-19

Jamshedpur-based steel manufacturer Tata Steel has announced that the company will continue to pay the monthly salary to the family of all employees who die due to the novel coronavirus.

Under the social security schemes, the firm said that if an employee dies of Covid-19, their family would receive their last-drawn salary till the time the employee would have turned 60.

In a statement, the Jamshedpur-based company said it would also provide medical benefits and residential facilities along with the salary.

“Tata Steel’s best-in-class social security schemes will help ensure an honourable standard of living for their families, whereby the family will get the last drawn salary till 60 years of age of the deceased employee/nominee along with medical benefits and housing facilities,” the company statement released on social media read.

In addition to this, for all its frontline employees, who as part of their job, met with an unfortunate death due to coronavirus, the firm would bear “all the expenses of their children’s education till graduation in India”, the statement added.

“Tata Steel has taken the path of #AgilityWithCare by extending social security schemes to the family members of the employees affected by #COVID19. While we do our bit, we urge everyone to help others around them in any capacity possible to get through these tough times,” on Twitter while announcing the schemes.

“The company has always been a shield of steel, supporting its stakeholders at all times. This time is no different. Tata Steel family stands stoically with all its people, committed to their security and well-being,” it further added.

Govt to support kids who lost parents to Covid via PM Cares

The Prime Minister has announced that all children, who have lost both parents or guardian due to Covid-19, will be supported under ‘PM-CARES for Children’ scheme. The PMO said that such children will get a monthly stipend once they turn 18 and a fund of Rs 10 lakh when they turn 23 from PM CARES.

Among the measures, a “PM CARES For Children” scheme was launched for support and empowerment of Covid affected children.

• Children to get a monthly stipend once they turn 18 and a fund of Rs 10 lakh when they turn 23 from PM CARES

• Free education to be ensured for children who lost their parents to Covid

• The children will be assisted to get an education loan for higher education and PM CARES will pay interest on the loan

• The children will get free health insurance of Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat till 18 years and premium will be paid by PM CARES.

J&K admin to provide special pension, scholarship to families of Covid victims under Saksham scheme

Under the new scheme Saksham, the surviving spouse and one eldest surviving member of affected families would receive a special monthly pension of Rs 1,000 through Direct bank transfer (DBT), provided that they are not otherwise receiving any pension under other schemes, the spokesman said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Council headed by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday approved the grant of financial relief through the Special Assistance Scheme for Covid mortalities (SASCM/Saksham) to the families of victims, an official spokesman said.

The scheme aims to ensure sustenance of families who have lost their sole breadwinner due to coronavirus.

Additionally, he said the scheme would also provide special scholarships to children who lost their earning parent(s)/ sibling(s)/ guardian(s) to COVID-19.

The special scholarship would be paid annually at the rate of Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 through DBT to children studying up to class 12 and higher education, respectively, the spokesman said.

Goa Statehood Day: CM announces assistance to families who lost their family members to Covid-19

On the occassion of Goa Statehood Day, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Sunday announced assistance of Rs 2 lakh to families that lost their breadwinners to Covid-19 and EWS families that lost their loved ones to Covid-19.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath announces aid for journalists’ kin who died due to Covid-19

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday announced Rs 10 lakh aid for kin of journalists who died due to COVID-19.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar announces financial aid of Rs 1,500 per month to children who lost either of their parents due to COVID19 under ‘Bal Sahayata Yojana’

Centre announces additional benefits under EPFO, ESIC schemes

The Labour Ministry announced a slew of benefits through ESIC and EPFO schemes for workers who lost their earning member to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a relief to workers who lost their earning member to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Labour Ministry on Sunday announced a slew of benefits through ESIC and EPFO schemes to address the fear and anxiety of such workers about the well-being of their family members.

The social security cover by the Centre is “sought to be provided to the workers without any additional cost to the employer,” the ministry said in a statement.

Currently for the Insured Persons (IPs) under ESIC, after death or disablement of the IP due to employment injury, a pension equivalent to 90 percent of average daily wage drawn by the worker is available to the spouse and widowed mother for life long and for children till they attain the age of 25 years.

For the female child, the benefit is available till her marriage.

To support the families of IPs under the ESIC scheme, it has been decided that, all dependent family members of IPs who have been registered in the online portal of the ESIC prior to their diagnosis of COVID disease and subsequent death due to the disease, will be entitled to receive the same benefits and in the same scale as received by the dependents of insured persons who die as a result of employment injury.

For that, the IP must have been registered on the ESIC online portal at least three months prior to the diagnosis of COVID disease resulting in death and the IP must have been employed for wages and contributions for at least 78 days should have been paid or payable in respect of deceased IP during a period of one year immediately preceding the diagnosis of COVID disease resulting in death.

The IPs who fulfill the eligibility conditions and have died due to COVID, their dependents will be entitled to receive monthly payment at 90 per cent of the average daily wages of the insured person during their life. The scheme will be effective for a period of two years from March 24, 2020.

Under the EPFO’s Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, all surviving dependent family members of this scheme are eligible to avail benefits of EDLI in case of death in the harness of the member.

At present under this scheme, the benefits extended in case of death of a worker are no requirement of minimum service for payment of Gratuity, family pension is paid as per provisions under EPF & MP Act, sickness benefit of 70 percent of wages for 91 days in a year is paid in the event of a worker falling sick and not attending office.

A notification issued by the Ministry has made the following amendments to this:

1. Amount of maximum benefit has been increased from Rs 6 lakhs to Rs 7 lakhs to the family members of the deceased employee.

2. Minimum assurance benefit of Rs 2.5 lakh to eligible family members of deceased employees who was a member for a continuous period of 12 months in one or more establishments preceding his death in place of existing provision of continuous employment in the same establishment for 12 months.

It will benefit contractual/casual labourers who were losing out on benefits due to the condition of continuous one year in one establishment.

3. Restoration of provision of a minimum Rs 2.5 lakh compensation retrospectively, in essence from February 15, 2020.

4. In the coming 3 years, the actuary has estimated that eligible family members will get an additional benefit of Rs 2185 crore from EDLI fund in the years 2021-22 to 2023-24.

5. The number of claims on account of death under the scheme has been estimated to be about 50,000 families per year including the increase in claims taking into account the estimated death of about 10,000 workers, which may occur due to COVID.

Chhattisgarh government announces financial aid of Rs 5 lakh for kin of journalists who died due to COVID-19.

Manipur floats scheme for children orphaned due to Covid-19

The Manipur government launched a scheme for children who have been orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, giving special impetus to their education.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the state would provide Rs 3,500 for every bereaved child living with his extended family or under a guardian’s care.

Children who have no one to care for them would be sent to residential institutions, with the government bearing all their expenses, the CM, after virtually launching the ‘Bal Seva’ scheme, said.

SC asks states to keep updating NCPCR portal with information about children orphaned due to Covid-19

SC asks states to keep updating NCPCR portal with information about number of children orphaned due to Covid, to hear plea on Monday. (PTI)

Mizoram Sports minister Robert Royte to bear ration expenses of 11,000 poor people for 8 months

As many people have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are finding it difficult to purchase food items, Mizoram Sports minister Robert Romawia Royte and former minister C Vulluaia are bearing the ration expenses of the poor people of their area.

Royte, who was elected from Aizawl East-II constituency in the 2018 assembly polls, has announced that he will bear the ration expenses of over 11,000 people poor of his constituency for eight months through his own savings and not from government funds.

There are 11,087 beneficiaries from several families, who hold Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) or ‘poorest of poor’ and Priority Household (PHH) or Below Poverty Line ration cards in seven localities within Aizawl East-II constituency for availing subsidized food grains from public distribution system under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). (PTI)

Maharashtra govt to help children orphaned due to Covid-19.

The state will deposit Rs 5 lakh into the bank accounts of the children who had lost their both parents due to Covid. The state cabinet has approved the proposal of the women and child development department.

Karnataka CM announces second relief package of Rs 500 crore

• Under which Powerloom weavers, workers in film and TV industry, fishermen, boatmen, temple and mosque workers, ASHA and anganwadi workers will get Rs.2000 to Rs 3000 cash assistance.

• Advocates & Teachers of unaided schools will get Rs 5000.

• The distribution of COVID-19 relief hamper, containing 14 essential commodities including wheat and sugar.

Odisha Government announces special package for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups over COVID Management

Keeping in view the outbreak of COVID-19 virus in the habitation of Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Odisha, the Schduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) SC Development Department has announced a special package for the PVTGs.

For emergency COVID Management in PVTG areas, the relief package includes distribution of free masks and sanitising materials to all PVTGs, dry ration kit of Rs 2,500 to all COVID affected PVTG Households, incentive of Rs 1,400 to all PVTGs (Rs 100 per day) affected by COVID-19 for stay in Institutional Quarantine Centre.

Other relief measures include door-to-door survey and screening of all PVTG households for COVID-19 symptoms, Community Resource persons (CRPs) working in PVTG villages to be awarded Rs 1,000 per month as an incentive for four months and health kits and life insurance coverage has been provided for all the field functionaries under MPAs

From June 5 Saturday, 2L poor without card will get ration in Delhi

Starting Saturday, Delhi government will start distributing free ration to those without ration cards in the city.

To begin with, two lakh beneficiaries will receive the kit from 280 Delhi government schools designated for the purpose.

Odisha CM sanctions Rs 26.29 crore for livelihood support to street vendors in urban areas

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has sanctioned Rs 26.29 crore for livelihood support to street vendors in urban areas adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This will benefit the 87,657 street vendors in the state: Chief Minister’s Office

Bihar to provide Rs 4 lakh each to kin of those who succumbed to Covid-19

Bihar Cabinet decides to provide an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakhs each to the next of kin of those who succumbed to COVID-19 in the state (ANI)

Flipkart extends support to families of deceased employees

Walmart-owned Flipkart has announced a new policy for employees that includes extended medical coverage and support for families of deceased employees as part of its COVID-19 relief efforts. Flipkart continues to prioritise employee well-being with a slew of measures extending care and wellness initiatives to all employees, including supply chain staff, across the country, the company said in a blogpost on Wednesday.

Providing details of the policy, the company said its Family Support Policy for India extends additional support for the families and dependents of Flipkart employees who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic. The family of the employee who succumbed to COVID-19 will be provided with a life insurance cover to the value of 5X of the employee’s CTC along with a notice period settlement as per their contract, and professional financial assistance programmes.

Flipkart said it will provide education support of up to Rs 1.2 lakh per annum for up to two children of the deceased employee until the children reach 22 years of age, as well as sponsor and extend the current medical insurance cover for the family for a period of 60 months. (PTI)

Rajasthan govt announces financial package for children orphaned by COVID

Exgratia of Rs 1 lakh, free education, Rs.2500/month & Rs. 5 Lakh aid for each child orphaned due to Covid

The Rajasthan government announced a financial relief package for children who lost their parents to the coronavirus.

Under the package, exgratia of Rs 1 lakh and a pension of Rs 1,500 a month will also be provided to women who lost their husbands to the infection, according to an official statement.

For children of these widows, Rs 1,000 a month per child and Rs 2,500 a month for school books and dress will be provided, it said.

The package, has a provision of Rs 1 lakh as immediate grant for children, who lost their parents to Covid, the statement said. It said that Rs 2,500 a month will be provided as assistance to these children till 18 years of age,

Rs 5 lakh assistance on completion of 18 years and free higher secondary education, besides other benefits proposed under the Mukhyamantri Corona Bal Kalyan Yojna.

Karnataka CM announces compensation for Covid deaths in BPL families

Every BPL family which has lost an adult member due to Covid-19 would be provided an ex-gratia of Rs. 1 lakh.

Our government stands in full solidarity with the families affected by the pandemic and will extend all possible support to ensure their well-being.

Good decision

CISF takes over security of Bharat Biotech’s Hyderabad facility

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took over the security of vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech’s premises in Hyderabad on Monday to protect it against any terror threat or sabotage that may lead to a biological disaster.

A contingent of 64 personnel, headed by an inspector-rank officer of the paramilitary force, was inducted at a ceremony held at the Genome Valley in the Shameerpet area of Telangana’s capital city, a CISF spokesperson said in Delhi. – PTI

Currently, there are 20 states and UTs where active Covid cases are less than 5,000:

Haryana announces Rs 5,000 one-time aid for labourers, shopkeepers hit by pandemic & Rs.2 lakh ex-gratia to kin of Covid deceased (BPL)

The Haryana government announced a one-time payment of Rs 5,000 each to small shopkeepers, construction workers, auto-rickshaw drivers and unorganised labourers who have faced financial hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, news agency PTI reported.

BPL families who have lost a family member in the 18-50 age group to COVID-19 will be given an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each.

Also announced a host of other benefits, including waiver of property tax and reduction in electricity bill in the first quarter of 2021-22.

Odisha announces Rs 1,690-cr COVID assistance package for the poor

Odisha government announced a Rs 1,690.46 crore COVID assistance package for the people from the economically and socially weaker sections who are facing difficulties in making ends meet due to the ongoing lockdown in the state.

Under the package, registered construction workers will get an additional Rs 1,500 each, landless farmers will get Rs 1,000 extra, MGNREGA workers will receive Rs 50 more per day, while food security beneficiaries will get additional 5 kg rice.

Govt resources have limits, can’t pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to family members of Covid-19 victims, says Centre

Ex gratia & compensation to Covid victims’ of families — Centre files affidavit before SC

• Centre filed affidavit before SC after responding to petitions seeking ex gratia & compensation of Rs 4 lakhs to family members of deceased who died due to COVID. Centre has filed affidavit that due to financial constraints & other factors, ex-gratia amount can’t be paid to kins.

• Centre, however, made clear that it had already made payments and a lot of govt measures had been introduced for the needy persons.

• Centre also further submitted to the Apex Court in its affidavit that the Union and all the State governments have spent huge amounts for needy persons, to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, and that their finances are overstretched (ANI)

New online system for COVID-19 death reporting in Kerala

• The Kerala government on Monday said that the reporting of COVID-19 deaths is going to be decentralised as fatalities caused by COVID-19 will now be reported district-wise online.
• Under the new online reporting system being made accessible to all public and private hospitals, doctors can enter the details of COVID-19 deaths — whether COVID-19 is the direct or underlying cause — directly on to the World Health Organisation’s reporting format
• In the new online reporting system, one cannot report a death to the district without completing many mandatory fields, including date of COVID-19 testing, the SRF ID (specimen referral form ID) and cause of death. Every death has to be reported within 24 hours. The system detects process delays and will keep prompting, ‘task pending’. In all, the new system ensures transparency, real-time reporting and most importantly, completeness of data,

Delhi government’s ex gratia of Rs 50,000 for Covid death notified: These are the documents you will need

Under the policy, Rs 2,500 per month will be given to the family of bread earners who have died. One member of the family will also be considered enrolment as a civil defence volunteer.

Delhi government’s awaited Covid death compensation policy, which gives Rs. 50,000 to the kin of those who lost their lives to Covid, has been notified.

Under the policy, Rs 2,500 per month will be given to the family of bread earners who have died. One member of the family will also be considered enrolment as a civil defence volunteer.

Children, below the age of 25, who have lost both parents, will also be eligible for the Rs 2,500 compensation. They will be eligible for the monthly assistance even if only one parent has died of Covid.

Parents who were dependent on their children (unmarried) will also be eligible for the assistance.
There is no maximum income limit for this scheme.

Documents required and process:

One time compensation (Rs 50,000)

The process is to be coordinated by the area District Magistrates

1.Proof of residence of both deceased & dependents.
2. Death certificate
3. Proof of Covid death — Death must certified as COVID death (as per MHA data) or death within one month of testing COVID positive and verified by Health Department as Covid death.
4. Documents establishing relationship between deceased & applicant
5. Bank Account details of the applicant.

Competent Authority to grant the ex-gratia of Rs. 50000 shall be the concerned DM.

In case of rejection of application by concerned DM, the applicant can file the grievance before the Divisional Commissioner.

Monthly financial assistance (Rs 2,500)

1. Proof of residence (Delhi address) of deceased and dependents.
2. Death certificate
3. Proof of Covid death
4. Documents establishing relationship between deceased & applicant
5. Bank Account details of the applicant.
6. In case of disabled dependent sibling, disability certificate
7. Proof of age of the dependent children.

The Health Department shall share list/database of Covid deaths with Department of Social Welfare
Home visits will be conducted for verification.

Government representatives will collect all relevant details and fill it for the dependents. They will also help with preparing documents like death certificates, hospital reports, etc in genuine cases.

The SDM has to either recommend or reject the case within 12 days of receipt of application.