Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has, no doubt, announced payment of ex gratia of Rs. 1 lakh each to the kin of those who have died of sunstroke in the recent weeks. But, the families of the victims are fuming at not getting the benefit, thanks to the bureaucratic logjam involved in the identification of ‘genuine’ victims.
Of the 1,735 deaths reported across the State as on June 2, three-member committees constituted in districts have confirmed 558 cases, but compensation has been paid to the kin of only 99 victims so far and the administration in the respective districts had to divert funds meant for other works for the purpose. The Chief Minister’s native Chittoor topped the list of districts in payment of compensation with 37 families followed by Guntur and Kadapa.
Officials in Guntur and Kadapa districts paid ex-gratia to 16 families . In its orders (GO 78 dated May 28), the government said that several Collectors had expressed their inability to ensure timely release of funds as there were no sufficient funds available and it would take some time for release of funds from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
It then examined the issue in detail under Treasury Rules-27 and made a provision wherein, the Collector, in circumstances of urgency, authorise and request the respective treasury officer to make the payment without complying with these rules. In any such case, Collector should forward a copy of his order and a statement of circumstances mandating it and the treasury officer should at once report payment details to the Accountant-General.
The government was of the view that due to urgency of providing quick relief to families of the deceased, the provisions of TR-27 may be utilised for early payment of ex-gratia by Collectors. Accordingly, the government has permitted Collectors to draw the required funds under TR-27 wherever there is urgency to make payment of the ex gratia in cases of confirmed deaths. However, treasury officials, apparently are in a dilemma over the release of funds citing that the deaths were not declared as “due to natural calamity”. Officials in Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Prasakam and Nellore districts did not pay ex gratia to a single person.
Prakasam that bore the maximum brunt of the heat wave, with over 53 confirmed out of 333 deaths was lagging behind, with no payment made to a single family.
Similarly, Kadapa and Kurnool district admimistrations paid the ex gratia amount to the families in all 16 and 14 confirmed deaths respectively, according to sources.
