The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to improve compensation for civilian victims under the Central Plan to Support Civilian Victims of Terrorist/Community/Left-Wing Extremists (LWE), Cross-Border Shootings and Mine Blasts/IEDs in India Territory’ of Rs.3 lakhs to Rs.5 lakhs.
During the Prime Minister’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir on October 23, 2014, the issue of financial assistance to people killed in cross-border shootings was raised. For the first time in 70 years since independence, he drew attention to the problem of the Indian population living in the border areas. The government analyzed its difficult situation due to the frequent violations of the ceasefire, especially on the north-western border of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan.
Approximately 770 km of the Line of Control (LC) and approximately 220 km of the International Border (IB) have been frequently plagued by ceasefire violations and terrorist influxes since 1990. By 2015, 13,921 civilians had died of the civilian population, the government decided to include civilian victims of cross-border shootings in the program.
Highlights of the scheme
The highlights of the scheme are as follows:
For the first time, civilian victims of cross-border gunfire along the Indo-Pak border will receive Rs 5,000 in compensation, similar to those who die as a result of terrorism or LWE violence.
The decision to provide compensation to victims of cross-border shootings and on Wednesday the government increased the amount from 3,000 rupees to 5,000 rupees for victims of terrorism or LWE violence.
From now on, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country as a result of a terrorist attack, LWE violence, gunfire from across the border, bombing or IED blast will uniformly receive Rs.5 Lakh in compensation.
The amount is paid to the relatives of the victim. The invalidity or inability to work for the same reasons. The amount of compensation is paid on the condition that the state or central government has not provided employment for any of the victims’ family members.
Until now, the next of kin of those killed or civilians suffering permanent disabilities as a result of such violence have been paid Rs. 3,000 under the provisions of the Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist, Communal Violence, Naxal since 2008. Victims’ families are entitled to support under the scheme even if they have received other support, through payment of ex gratia or other types of relief from the government or other source, unless a similar scheme is already in place by the central government. So far the government has paid out Rs. 35.89 crore in compensation to civilian victims since the scheme was introduced in 2008.
Aadhaar authentication
In order to provide the beneficiary with a convenient and uncomplicated benefit under the scheme, the Department, through the implementing agency or otherwise, will take all necessary precautions to ensure that the beneficiary is widely publicized through the media of the claim.
In case of poor fingerprint quality, the IRIS scanner or face authentication function will be adopted for authentication, so the Ministry will arrange for IRIS scanner or face authentication together with fingerprint authentication through the enforcement body for transparent service delivery.