Govt fixes Rs 5L as ex gratia for accidental deaths

The state government has announced standard rates of compensation for loss of life and other mishaps occurring due to natural calamities, accidents or man-made disasters.

In a government order, the Revenue department has fixed Rs 5 lakh as the compensation that will be awarded in the event of death or permanent disability.

For partial disability, the compensation will be minimum Rs one lakh going up to Rs 5 lakh. In the case of grievous injury, the compensation will range from Rs 20,000 and Rs one lakh. Also, the government will cover cost of treatment availed of in state-run and registered hospitals.

The Revenue department pays compensation for deaths caused due to natural calamities as per State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) guidelines - fixed by the Centre. The Agriculture department announces compensation when a farmer commits suicide. If deaths are caused due to attack by wild animals, compensation is announced by the Forest department.

Compensation for death due to electric mishaps come under the Energy department. Fatalities caused due to road accidents is under the Transport department. In all other cases, compensation is announced from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

“There is disparity in announcement of compensation as well as in the amount. During the 2017 winter session of legislature in Belagavi, MLCs had drawn the government’s attention to this. A committee was formed under the additional chief secretary-cum-development commissioner to bring uniformity in the compensation process. The committee has also concluded that compensation should be awarded through deputy commissioners,” the government order states.