By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Seven years after the gruesome state sponsored killings of Muslims in Indian state of Gujarat, the UPA government at the Centre have decided to pay addition 70 crores to the victims.
The press release issued by the Home Ministry stated that “the Centre has made Rs.70.55 crores available to the Gujarat Government for providing additional ex-gratia assistance to the victims of the communal violence of 2002 in the State.”
Assistance of Rs. 3.5 lakh would be paid for each of 1169 cases. In 2548 cases of injury an ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 1.25 lakh minus any assistance paid by the State Government has been fixed.
Only those who have received payment earlier are eligible for this new round of funding. Those who did not receive any funding before will not be eligible.
Unfortunately, victims need to interact with local administration or agency of the State Government to get their claims verified. Victims and NGOs have previously blamed the State Government in being complicit in killings of Muslims in 2002, worst mass killings in Independent India. It remains to be seen how honestly State Government discharge their duties with regards to providing compensation to the victims.
In a letter sent last week, the Centre has asked the State Government to ensure that the claims are settled and the utilization certificates are sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs within 45 days.