By TwoCircles.net news desk,
New Delhi: The central government has formulated detailed guidelines for implementing the Central Scheme for Assistance to Victims of Terrorist and Communal Violence. The Scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet in March this year.
The broad aim of the scheme is to assist victims of terrorist violence and communal violence. Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs. 3 lac is admissible to the family member(s) in the event of death or permanent incapacitation of the victim who was the bread-winner/householder of the family.
According to the guidelines sent to States and Union Territories, the principal amount would be put in a fixed deposit account [Joint or Single in the name of the Family member(s)] in a nationalized bank. (If there is no nationalized bank within the vicinity of the residence of the beneficiary, account may be opened in any scheduled commercial bank.) It would have a minimum lock-in period of 3 years or, if there are only minor children in the family, till the eldest child attains the age of majority, whichever is later. The interest on the sum would be credited directly by the bank to the beneficiary’s saving account on a quarterly basis, says a press release issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on 24th July.
Families of the victims would be eligible to get assistance under the scheme even if they have received any other assistance, by way of payment of ex-gratia or any other type of relief from the Government or any other source, except when a similar scheme is already being implemented by the Central Government.
In addition, those permanently incapacitated, and the members of the family of the victims killed/permanently incapacitated in terrorist or communal violence would also be given a health card by the District Health Society, functioning under the National Rural Health Mission. This card would entitle them to free medical treatment in respect of injuries due to violence and all other major illnesses. Medical care will also be provided to the beneficiaries of the scheme as a special case under the on-going schemes of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, viz., Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi and the National Trauma Care Project.
A District level Committee, under the Chairmanship of District Magistrate/ Collector/Dy. Commissioner, and having as its members the District Superintendent of Police, District Medical Officer, District Social Welfare Officer, District Child and Women Development Officer and an officer who may be nominated by the State Government would identify beneficiaries and verify their eligibility for assistance under the scheme.
The District Committee would, so far as possible, make its recommendation within one month of receipt of claim for assistance to victims/family of terrorist or communal violence. The Ministry of Home Affairs would examine the case in terms of fulfillment of conditions for grant of assistance under the scheme.