Bhubaneswar: The State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha has revised the scale for payment of ex-gratia compensation to the families of persons on election duty who die and also the personnel who sustain injuries leading to incapacitation whether by accident or any other means arising out of and in course of election duty/death arising out of COVID-19 during General Elections to Panchayats, 2022 and thereafter including by-elections.
Such ex-gratia shall be compassionate compensation applicable to all Civil persons whether Government (both Centre and State)/Corporation (including Central and State P.S.U.)/Local bodies or Drivers & Helpers of Government and private vehicles and police personnel including Central Police Forces (C.P.F) engaged by the competent authority for election related duty in Odisha during General Elections to Panchayats, 2022 and thereafter including by-elections.
The SEC stated that a person is to be treated on election duty, as soon as he/she leaves his/her residence/office to report for any election-related duty, including training, and until he/she reaches back his/her residence/office after performance of his/her election-related duty. Any mishap takes place during the said period shall be treated as having occurred on election duty subject to the condition that there should be a casual connection between the occurrence of death/injury and the election duty.
The rates of ex-gratia compensation shall be decided as mentioned below.
1. On death arising out of and in course of election duty, if the death is caused due to any violent act of extremist or anti-social elements in road mines, bomb blast, armed attacks etc. – Rs 30 Lakh
2. On death arising out of and in course of election duty due to any reason other than (1) above. – Rs 15 Lakh
3. On permanent disability (i.e loss of limb, eyesight, etc) caused due to any violent act of extremist or antisocial elements in road mines, bomb blast, armed attacks etc. arising out of and in course of election duty. – Rs 15 Lakh
4. On permanent disability (i.e. loss of limb, eye sight etc.) whether by accident or by any other means arising out of and in course of election duty. – Rs 7.5 Lakh
5. Grievous injuries and Multiple fractures caused by accident or by any other means arising out of and in course of election duty leading to temporary and prolonged incapacitation. – Maximum Rs 2 Lakh
The rate of Ex-gratia compensation in the event of death due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
1. On death arising out of and in course of election duty if the death is caused due to COVID-19. – Rs 30 Lakh
2. Affected COVID-19 patient. – Cashless Medical treatment facility
However, the SEC stated that the Death Certificate specifying the reason of death has to issued by the Medical Officer and countersigned by the CDMO concerned certifying specifically that the Death is caused due to COVID-19. The duty period is to be counted from the date and time of reporting for election duty before the Election Officer and ends with being relieved by the Election Officer from election duty.
The family of the deceased personnel or the personnel disabled/grievously injured on election duty will be eligible to the above grant subject to production of the following documents from the appropriate authorities in support of the claim.
(a) Duly filled in claim form
(b) Certificate from the Collector that the deceased/disabled was on Election Duty.
(c) Certificate from the District Superintendent of Police that the deceased/disabled personnel was on Election Duty (In case of police personnel/(C.P.F).
(d) A copy of FirstInformation Report (FIR)
(e) Postmortem report in case of mishap/unnatural/unidentified death
(f) Appointment letter as a proof of appointment in Election Duty where ever applicable
(g) Medical Report of the CDMO of the District / Government Medical Colleges Hospital.
In case of permanent disability sustained by the election-related personnel, a certificate has to be obtained from the Medical Board duly constituted by the concerned CDMO.
In case of grievous injuries and multiple fractures leading to temporary and
prolonged incapacitation, detailed medical report (including X-rays etc.) should be furnished.
The injured personnel on election duty himself and in the case of deceased, the legal heirs of his family shall within a period of three months from the date of injury/death, as the case may be, submit an application for compassionate grant to the concerned Collector and the concerned Election Officer shall draw up a report.
The application and report shall be sent by the concerned Election Officer with his recommendation to the State Election Commission, Odisha within one month of the receipt of the application, who may sanction the compassionate grant in favour of the family members in the event of death or the person in case of disability.
This benefit is also applicable for the period of Bye-election conducted in the State. Further, the SEC clarified that the staff those who are engaged in the conduct of election work in the office of SEC, Odisha, Office of the Collector, and Sub-ordinate Office are also eligible to avail the aforesaid benefit.
No other compassionate grant will be paid to the families of Government employees/Government employees covered under this Order during the period it remains in force.
The decision of the State Election Commission, Odisha. regarding sanction of quantum of the compassionate grant will be final.
The Commission further directed that the matter be looked into promptly by the officers so that the family member or the person himself/herself is not be harassed to get the document. If such matter is brought to the notice of the Commission, the State Election Commission will take stern action against the officer(s) for whom the matter is delayed.
