Cabinet raises compensation for terror, blast victims

The cabinet on Wednesday approved a scheme to enhance the grant of compensation to the civilian victims of terror attacks, communal violence, left wing extremism (LWE), cross-border firing and mine, IED blasts from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, officials said.

The approval to the scheme -- the Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims -- came at the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

For the first time, civilian victims of cross-border firing along the India-Pakistan border will be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh. It is similar to those who die in acts of terrorism or left-wing extremism (LWE) violence, a statement said.

Now onwards, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs 5 Lakh as compensation uniformly.

The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim.

The same Rs 5 lakh compensation will also be given to those who sustain 50 per cent or more disability or incapacitation due to these reasons, the release said, adding that the compensation amount will be given subject to the condition that no employment has been provided to any of the family members of the victims by state or central governments.

Till date, the next of kin of persons killed or civilians who suffered permanent disabilities as a result of such violence were paid Rs 3 lakh as per provisions of the central scheme for assistance to civilian victims of terrorist, communal, Naxal violence since 2008.

--IANS

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