Tag: Covid victims

  • 645 children orphaned by Covid-19 second wave from April-May 28, most in UP

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A total of 645 children lost their parents to COVID-19 from April to May 28 this year during the second wave, the Women and Child Development Ministry said on Thursday.

    In response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani gave data on the children orphaned during the second wave of COVID-19.

    According to the data, a total of 645 children lost their parents to Covid from April 2021 to May 28.

    The highest number of such children was reported from Uttar Pradesh at 158 followed by Andhra Pradesh at 119, Maharashtra at 83 and Madhya Pradesh at 73.

    The states and UTs have been jointly requested by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education to ensure continuity of education of the children who have lost their parents in the COVID-19 pandemic, while accommodating them under the various schemes being run by Department of School Education and Literacy, Irani said in a written reply.

    She further said that the prime minister has announced a scheme to support the children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian or adoptive parents due to the pandemic.

    “The scheme provides support for education and health and will create a corpus of Rs 10 lakh for each child when he or she reaches 18 years of age.

    This corpus will be used to give a monthly financial support/ stipend form 18 years of age, for the next five years to take care of his or her personal requirements during the period of higher education and on reaching the age of 23 years, he or she will get the corpus amount as one lump-sum for personal and professional use,” Irani said.

  • Shiv Sena hits out at Centre’s ‘no oxygen shortage deaths’ remark, Sanjay Raut wants people to move court

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said people whose relatives died due to oxygen shortage during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic should “take the Union government to court”.

    Raut’s comments came a day after the central government said in the Rajya Sabha that no deaths due to lack of oxygen were specifically reported by states and UTs during the second COVID-19 wave.

    Reacting to it, Raut said, “Many people have died due to oxygen shortage in several states. Those whose relatives (COVID-19 patients) died due to oxygen shortage should take the Union government to court.

    “The Union government is running away from the truth I seems it is the effect of Pegasus (Israeli spyware),” the Rajya Sabha member said sarcastically while talking to reporters.

    ALSO READ | ‘Completely false’: Delhi Health Minister hits out at Centre’s ‘no one died due to oxygen shortage’ remarks

    The Sena’s chief spokesperson further said it needs to be found out whether the people whose relatives died due to lack of oxygen supply believe in the Centre’s response in Parliament over the issue.

    The Union government on Tuesday said in the Rajya Sabha that there was an unprecedented surge in demand for medical oxygen during the second wave and it peaked at nearly 9,000 MT compared to 3,095 MT in the first wave, following which the Centre had to step in to facilitate equitable distribution among the states.

  • Assam budget: Govt to provide financial help to families of coronavirus victims

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: The Assam government will provide one-time financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to families of people who have died of COVID-19, State Finance Minister Ajanta Neog said on Friday.

    Presenting the budget for 2021-22 in the assembly, Neog claimed this is a first-of-its-kind scheme by any government in the country.

    The state government had already announced the ‘Chief Minister Shishu Seva Scheme’ for children who lost their parents due to coronavirus and the ‘Chief Minister COVID-19 Widow Support Scheme’ for widows.

    Under the scheme for children, an amount of Rs 3,500 will be provided per child each month.

    For those below 10 years who may not have an extended family or guardian, the Assam government will take steps to house them in child care institutions and provide adequate funding towards their upkeep and education.

    In the other scheme, each widow is eligible for a one-time grant of Rs 2.5 lakh.

    The modalities for application and availing the benefit under the new schemes will be issued by the Health Department in due course, and the programmes will cost the exchequer around Rs 40 crore, the minister said.

    Altogether, 4,888 deaths of adults, including 1,345 females, due to COVID-19 have been reported in the state till July 13, Neog said.

    A total of 56 minors (less than 18 years of age) have also died due to the virus during the same period.

    She said 95,770 COVID-19 patients were provided free treatment along with food worth Rs 300 per day till June this year.

    “Total number of ICU beds has now been increased to 1,540, with approximately 1,099 ICU beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients.

    The number of oxygen supported beds has also been hiked to 3,855,” Neog added.

  • Will consider insurance to workers performing last rites of COVID victims, Centre tells SC

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday that it would consider granting insurance cover on the lines of other frontline workers to those working in crematoriums and helping conduct last rites of COVID victims, terming the issue a “valid concern”.

    A special vacation bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah, which reserved verdict on two pleas seeking ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the dependents of those who died of COVID, was told by lawyer Gaurav Kumar Bansal that the people working in crematoriums have been left without any insurance cover.

    Bansal, who has filed one of the PILs on the issue, said the crematorium workers are getting infected and succumbing to the deadly disease.

    Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, agreed to the enormity of the issue and said it was a “valid concern”.

    “It is a very valid concern. Crematorium members are not covered under the insurance scheme. I will take care of this aspect. Presently over 22 lakh healthcare workers are covered under the insurance scheme,” Mehta told the bench during the hearing conducted through video conferencing.

    The government has already extended for one more year, starting from April 2021, the benefit of the ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Insurance Scheme’ of Rs 50 lakh to about 22 lakh healthcare professionals, he said.

    The top court, which asked the Centre whether NDMA, headed by the Prime Minister, has taken a decision not to pay Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to families of victims of COVID, said that a uniform compensation scheme should be put in place as different amount being paid by different states would create heart burn among beneficiaries.

    The bench’s observations came when lawyer Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for four intervening applicants who had lost their family members to COVID, submitted that there cannot be any discrimination in the amounts being paid by different states to family members of those who had succumbed to the deadly infection.

    “There has to be a central scheme which has to be uniform for all victims,” he said, adding that the financial constraints cannot be a ground for the Centre to run away from its statutory duties to pay compensation.

    Sodhi said some states pay higher sum in compensation and others pay less and this discrimination should not be allowed to remain and the Centre should frame a uniform policy under the Disaster Management Act.

    The bench observed that the Finance Commission’s recommendations on dealing with disasters cannot override the statutory schemes on compensation under section 12 of the DMA.

    However, it did not agree to the submission of a lawyer that the Centre under the DMA should give Rs 4 lakh as ex gratia to the families of the victims of the pandemic.

    “Every disaster is different. There can be small and big pandemics. Or a big flood or small food. If the standard or gravity of a pandemic is more, then you cannot say that the same standard can be applied for every disaster,” the bench said, adding that the submission can be that there must be a scheme.

    Mehta said granting ex gratia is not the only thing, under the schemes of the Finance Commission, and measures have been taken to mitigate sufferings.

    “Everyone is entitled to 2kg rice and 5kg pulses as a part of food security. Enhancing oxygen production level was also under the Act. Even the free vaccination was also there under it,” Mehta said.

    “We have to keep in mind that this is an ongoing process and instead of one-time relief on death, it is better if we go for multi-pronged preparedness,” he said.

  • Centre lost all sense of balance, responsibility towards people: Congress on ex-gratia for Covid victims

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Hitting out at the Union government for telling the Supreme Court that it cannot pay Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to COVID-19 victims, the Congress on Sunday alleged the Centre has lost all sense of balance and responsibility towards people.

    The Centre has told the apex court that a compensation of Rs 4 lakh cannot be paid to the families of those who have died of COVID-19 as it is beyond fiscal affordability and the finances of central and state governments are under severe strain.

    In a tweet on Saturday, the Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “Power-drunk Modi government has lost all sense of balance and responsibility towards people. In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, the BJP government claims it doesn’t have money to pay even ?4 lakh as ex gratia compensation to families of Covid victims.” 

    “Does Modi Govt even feel the pain and suffering? No money for compensation to COVID-19 victim families but Rs 20,000 crore are being spent on Central Vista and a palace for prime minister.

    “And where are the Rs 3,89,662 crore collected in the year 2020-21 from the loot in prices of petrol and diesel?” he asked in another tweet.

    ALSO READ | Third wave in 6-8 weeks if COVID-appropriate behaviour not followed: AIIMS chief

    In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the Centre submitted that it has by ways of “Minimum Standard Relief”, under section 12 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, taken several steps providing for substantial and speedy measures by way of increase in health, infrastructure, ensuring food safety to every citizen.

    On June 11 , the Centre had told the top court that issues raised in the pleas, seeking directions for ex gratia of Rs 4,00,000 to the families of those who have died of COVID-19, are “genuine” and are under consideration of the government.

    On May 24, the top court had sought the Centre’s reply on two petitions seeking compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of those who have died of COVID-19 and had said that there should be a uniform policy for issuing death certificates to those succumbing to the virus.

  • Act against NGOs, individuals indulging in illegal adoptions of children orphaned by Covid: SC

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Expressing concerns about the illegal adoption of children orphaned by Covid-19, the Supreme Court has directed state governments to act against NGOs indulging in illegal adoption.

    In its order, a bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao said: “No adoption of affected children should be permitted contrary to the provisions of the JJ Act, 2015. Invitation to persons for adoption of orphans is contrary to law as no adoption of a child can be permitted without the involvement of CARA. Stringent action shall be taken by the State Governments/Union Territories against agencies/individuals indulging in this illegal activity.”

    The order asked the state governments to prevent NGOs from collecting funds in the name of affected children by disclosing their identity and inviting interested persons to adopt them.

    The order came in a suo moto case initiated by the court to deal with the problems of children affected by Covid-19. The court was informed about adoption posts circulating on various social media platforms amid the pandemic that saw several children lose either one or both their parents.

  • Act against NGOs, individuals indulging in illegal adoptions of children orphaned by COVID: SC to States, UTs

    The NCPCR had sounded the alarm on a spate of complaints about illegal adoption of children orphaned by COVID-19 through private individual and organisations.

  • Not much variation in Ganga water quality due to dead body discharge: Centre

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: After several bodies of suspected Covid victims were found floating in the Ganga and Yamuna in Bihar and UP, the initial analysis of water samples does not show much variation in the river water quality due to dead body discharge as far as biological parameters are concerned but states have been directed that sewage and water samples be analyzed for the monitoring of contamination of coronavirus.

    During a review meeting of the situation, Pankaj Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti, emphasized to get in touch with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to get the water samples analysed by the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune that has recently established protocol for testing Covid 19 virus in the sewage and has started testing.

    According to the minutes of the meeting, attended by Chief Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, accessed by The New Indian Express, Prashant Gargava, Member Secretary, CPCB informed that as per the real time water quality monitoring data not much variation is observed in the river water quality due to dead body discharge as far as biological parameters are concerned.

    He also informed that as per the report of WHO, water spread of virus is not expected and chances of survival of virus in river water are ruled out. He further informed that the CPCB has written to the SPCB to monitor the water quality and have to look out at bacteriological parameters in addition to the conventional parameters. He opined that for Covid virus analysis, samples can be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.

    ALSO READ | Varanasi: New born baby tests positive for COVID-19 despite mother being negative+

    Ashish Tiwari, Member Secretary, UPPCB, informed that weekly monitoring of the water samples of the river is being done for the conventional parameters of pH, Color, BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), COD (chemical oxygen demand).

    “As per the data not much difference in the water quality of the river was observed and that the flow of the river is adequate. Analysis of the Covid virus from the water samples involves the extraction of RNA, which can be done by the appropriate institutes having expertise for the same,” said Tiwari, assuring increase in frequency of monitoring at strategic locations.

    The Centre emphasised that specialized institutes such as National Institute of Virology, Pune, and National Chemical Laboratory may be associated for testing of the Covid virus in the water samples and that the CPCB to do overall coordination.

    “It was also emphasized to get in touch with concerned agencies such as CPCB, SPCBs, CWC to get the water samples analyzed for the monitoring of contamination of Covid virus and intensified monitoring for other conventional important parameters. The health department may be associated by state PCBs so as to ensure the collection and analysis of samples as per the specified protocols and guidelines. Project Directors of State Missions can coordinate as needed. The spread of the virus in sewage may also be monitored by undertaking studies,” according to minutes of the meeting.