On July 25, the state cabinet of Bihar decided to provide a job on compassionate grounds to any one dependent or family member of any state government employee who loses her/his life to the coronavirus, while on duty.
If the dependent or family member does not wish to take up the employment offered on compassionate grounds, then she/he will be given the full salary of the employee till the date of retirement, under a special family pension scheme. Post the date of retirement, the dependent or family member of the deceased will also enjoy the benefits of the existing family pension scheme.
This decision will be effective for the period April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.
This benefit has been introduced at the right time, when government employees are increasingly contracting COVID-19, while on duty and losing their lives as a result. As on July 25, there were over 36,000 cases of COVID19 in Bihar and the number of deaths due to the virus stood at 232.
Last week, the Delhi government had announced an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore to all its employees who succumb to COVID-19, while discharging their duties as frontline warriors. A decision was taken to accord ‘Corona Warrior’ status to Dr Javed Ali, a National Health Mission (NHM) doctor, who lost his life to the virus. His family was granted a compensation of Rs 1 crore.
