By IANS,
Agartala : The central government has formulated a new scheme to assist victims of terrorists and communal violence in insurgency-hit northeast, officials said here Saturday.
The central home ministry has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs.300,000 to the next of kin in the event of death or permanent incapacitation of the victim in militancy or during communal or ethnic violence in the region.
According to a report by the ministry, more than 2,300 civilians and 485 security personnel were killed by militants in the northeastern region since 2003.
As per the guidelines of the new scheme, the principal amount would be put in a fixed deposit account in a bank for at least three years.
“If there are only minor children in the family, the fixed deposit scheme would be applicable till the eldest child attains the age of 18,” a senior home ministry official said.
However, the interest on the amount would be credited directly to the beneficiary’s saving account on a quarterly basis.
“The victims’ families would be eligible for assistance under the scheme even if they had received any other financial assistance, including ex-gratia, from the government or any other source,” the official said.
“Family members of such cases would also be given a health card by the district health society, functioning under the National Rural Health Mission, for free medical treatment,” the official said. The central scheme would also be extended to Jammu and Kashmir and Maoist-hit states.