Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh for students who die or suffer permanent disability in accidents, as part of new guidelines aimed at providing financial support to schoolchildren and their families during medical emergencies.
The School and Mass Education Department issued the guidelines on September 3, covering students from Sishu Vatika to Class XII enrolled in government and government-aided schools, Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAVs) and Odisha Model Adarsha Vidyalayas (OMAVs).
Under the new provisions, an eligible student’s family will receive Rs 2 lakh in case of accidental death, while the same amount will be provided in cases of permanent disability caused by an accident.
The government has also made provisions for transportation assistance for students who sustain serious injuries in accidents and require advanced medical treatment.
Students who need to be shifted outside their district for specialised treatment will be eligible for transportation assistance of up to Rs 30,000.
In another provision, students undergoing treatment for more than three days at a district headquarters hospital will be eligible for transportation assistance of up to Rs 10,000.
The guidelines further state that eligible students will receive free treatment at government hospitals. They can also avail themselves of assistance under various government schemes and support mechanisms, including Ayushman Bharat, the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) and the Red Cross, wherever applicable.
The department has laid emphasis on ensuring that financial assistance reaches affected families without delay.
The sanctioned ex-gratia amount is to be released within 24 hours of approval, according to the guidelines, so that families can access financial support during emergencies.
The approval of the assistance will involve the competent authorities, including the Headmaster or Principal, Block Education Officer (BEO), District Education Officer (DEO) and District Collector, depending on the nature of the case.
The guidelines have also specified the order of priority for payment of ex-gratia assistance in case of a student’s accidental death.
The student’s mother will be the first beneficiary. If the mother is not alive, the amount will be paid to the father.
In cases where both parents are not alive, the ex-gratia amount will be paid to a guardian identified by the District Collector.
The new guidelines are aimed at ensuring timely financial and medical support to students and their families in the event of serious accidents and related emergencies.
