NEW DELHI, May 19 (NNN-PTI) – The local government in the Indian capital, New Delhi, announced it will provide 50,000 Indian rupees (684 U.S. dollars) in compensation to each family that has lost a member to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made by Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal.
“Many families have lost loved ones because of COVID-19. There are many families that have lost their only breadwinners. On every death due to COVID-19, families will be given a compensation of rupees 50,000 (684 U.S. dollars) and those families that have lost the earning member will be given a pension of rupees 2,500 (34 U.S. dollars) every month.”
The chief minister said, children who have lost both parents, or single parent due to COVID-19 will also be provided monthly assistance of 2,500 rupees up to the age of 25 years.
He said the government will take care of their education.
Kejriwal said, all 7.2 million ration cardholders in the city will be provided free 10 Kg ration this month. Besides, the poor and needy without ration cards will also be provided free ration.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal requested the federal government to suspend flights to and from Singapore with immediate effect, in the wake of a new strain of COVID-19 detected there.
“The new form of COVID-19 that came to Singapore is being said to be extremely dangerous for children. In India, it may come as a third wave. My appeal to the federal government is to cancel air services to and from Singapore with immediate effect, and work on a priority basis to explore options for vaccination among children,” the chief minister said.
Yesterday morning the federal health ministry said, the city recorded 4,524 new cases and 340 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Across the country 263,533 new COVID-19 cases and 4,329 related deaths were registered in the past 24 hours.
India is witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases and the second wave of the pandemic caused a shortage of oxygen and essential medicines in the country’s hospitals. Some states have flagged the federal government about the shortage of COVID-19 vaccine stocks.– NNN-PTI