By IANS,
New Delhi : The Election Commission Friday announced doubling of the compensation amount from Rs.500,000 to Rs.1 million for poll officials who fall victim to attacks by extremist or anti-social elements during the elections.
“Vide its order dated February 17, 2009, the commission has doubled the amount of compensation from Rs.500,00 to Rs.1 million for ex-gratia payment to election related officials in the event of any mishap,” the Election Commission said in a statement issued here.
Communicating its decision to the state governments and union territories, the commission said: “If the death is unfortunately caused due to any violent acts of extremist or unsocial elements like road mines, bomb blasts, armed attacks etc., the amount of compensation should be doubled i.e. Rs. one million.”
The poll panel said that compensation worth Rs.250,000 be made in case of permanent disability like loss of limbs or eyesight and the amount should be doubled in case of attacks by extremist or unsocial elements.
The announcement comes a day after the first phase of elections in 124 Lok Sabha constituencies across 15 states and two union territories was held Thursday. The polls in Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were marred by Maoist violence that claimed 19 lives, including those of 10 police personnel.