The Delhi government has established a dedicated Group of Ministers (GoM) to accelerate and review the disbursement of compensation to families who tragically lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This proactive measure, announced by a senior official on Wednesday, aims to address the backlog of pending claims and identify all eligible families still awaiting crucial financial assistance, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to social equity and public welfare in the capital. The formation of this high-level committee directly responds to concerns raised by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who had previously highlighted that a significant number of bereaved families had not received the promised pandemic relief. Gupta stated that “a special committee has been formed to identify such cases and provide financial support,” underscoring the government’s resolve to rectify historical disparities in aid distribution.
The GoM is slated for its inaugural meeting in early June, where officials from the revenue, health, and other pertinent departments will present individual case files for detailed analysis and final decisions on compensation disbursements. The political discourse surrounding pandemic compensation has been a notable feature in the Delhi Assembly. Chief Minister Gupta, earlier this year, publicly criticised the previous administration, asserting that only 97 families had received financial aid despite reports of substantial public expenditure on awareness campaigns. This claim stands in stark contrast to official data indicating that over 26,700 individuals in Delhi succumbed to Covid-related complications, highlighting a significant gap between announced policy and ground-level execution.
In 2021, the then-governing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had launched the ‘Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Pariwar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana,’ a scheme designed to provide comprehensive support. This included an ex gratia payment of ₹50,000 to the next of kin of every Covid victim, supplemented by an additional monthly support of ₹2,500 if the deceased was the sole breadwinner of the family. Furthermore, eligible families were entitled to a one-time ex gratia payment of ₹50,000 from the Delhi Disaster Response Fund (DDRF), with a matching amount from the city government, underscoring the multi-layered financial safety net envisioned during the crisis.
While the city grapples with the retrospective review of these vital compensation claims, it is also concurrently monitoring the ongoing, albeit contained, presence of Covid-19. Delhi has reported two additional Covid-related fatalities in the past 48 hours, bringing this year’s toll to three. With 81 new infections logged since Friday, the active caseload stands at 375, with 19 patients currently hospitalised and others recovering at home. Chief Minister Gupta reassured the public, stating, “There’s no reason for the public to panic. Covid-19 hasn’t reached a worrying level, and the government is fully prepared.” As a precautionary measure, advisories have been issued to hospitals to ensure robust availability of beds, medicines, and oxygen supplies, reflecting a proactive approach to public health management. The formation of the GoM signals a critical step towards ensuring that the human cost of the pandemic is adequately acknowledged and that promised support reaches all affected families, fostering trust in governance and promoting a more equitable urban society.
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