Landmine victims are provided compensation by GOI: Saifullah

Victims of landmines are paid compensation by the Centre, but the state has paid a small amount to the injured, Jammu and Kashmir government informed the state Assembly today.
Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah today said that one person namely Mangat Ram died and six persons were injured due to mine blast in Bishnah constituency.
Replying to a calling attention notice by Ashwani Sharma in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister said that landmine casualties are not covered under the existing ex-gratia compensation and these victims are covered under the guidelines, schemes of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India (GOI).

Under the scheme, the Minister said, the case of the landmine causalities are processed by the concerned District Collector (Deputy Commissioner) and then forwarded to the state government who in turn forward the same to the nearest sub-area commander with recommendations to make the payment of compensation.
However, an ex-gratia relief at the rate of Rs 5,000 has been paid by the state government to each of the six injured persons through the tehsildar concerned.
The case of deceased Mangat Ram was referred to the GOC-in-C Headquarters, Western Command for grant of ex-gratia relief as per guidelines issued by Ministry of Defence, Saifullah said.