In a major political decision, Narendra Modi’s government announced that it would pay three months’ salary to members of the National Employee Insurance Company (ESIC) who lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic, reported the ANI news agency. The announcement was made on Friday by Union Labor and Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

The ministry will also provide lifelong financial assistance to families of ESIC members who died from Covid-19, Yadav said in a media interaction, ANI reported.

On Friday, the Union Interior Ministry approved the release of the second tranche from the National Disaster Relief Fund Center (SDRF) amounting to ??7,274.40 crore in advance across 23 states.

After the release of the last tranche, state governments will have an amount of ??23,186.40 crore in their respective disaster relief funds, including state share, to cover expenses related to the ex gratia grant to the next of kin of the deceased due to Covid-19 and to provide relief on other notified calamities, the Union Home Office said. .

The central government issued a decree on September 25 revising the elements and standards of assistance under the SDRF, providing for the granting of an ex gratia payment to relatives of the deceased due to Covid-19.

Earlier last month, the Center informed the Supreme Court that family members of people who committed suicide within 30 days of being diagnosed with Covid-19 will be entitled to ??50,000 free grants in accordance with guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Deaths occurring within 30 days from the date of the test or from the date of clinical determination as a Covid case will be treated as “Death from Covid-19”, even if the death occurs outside of the hospital / inpatient facility, the government clarified.

On June 30, the Supreme Court ordered the NDMA to formulate guidelines for ex gratia assistance due to the loss of life of family members of those who died from Covid-19.