The Centre  filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has proposed an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 to the families of those who died due to COVID-19.

Compensation will also be given to the kin of those COVID-19 victims who were involved in relief operations or activities associated with the preparedness for dealing with the pandemic, the government told the top cout.

It further said that the financial assistance to the deceased’s families will be provided by states from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

The Centre aslo told the court that the ex-gratia will be paid subject to the cause of death being certified as COVID-19 as per the guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and ICMR.

Two separate pleas have been filed in the SC by lawyers Reepak Kansal and Gaurav Kumar Bansal seeking directions to the Centre and the states to provide Rs four lakh as compensation to the families of coronavirus victims as provisioned under the Act.

On September 3, the top court had pulled up the Centre over delay in framing guidelines for issuance of certificates for COVID-related deaths, saying that by the time the government issues the rules, the “third wave will also be over”.

The apex court had in its June 30 verdict directed the NDMA to recommend within six weeks the guidelines for ex-gratia assistance on account of loss of life to the family members of persons who died due to COVID-19