Odisha COVID Deaths: Kin Can Apply For Rs 50K Ex-Gratia From Today; Check The Procedure

Bhubaneswar: Next of kin of those who died due to COVID-19 can apply for an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 to the district collectors and municipal commissioners from Wednesday (November 3).

One can apply physically or by post and online (https://caps.odisha.gov.in), using a prescribed application form and submitting the proof of COVID-19 death, documents to establish NOK with the deceased and bank account details.

The status of the application can be tracked online using the application number.

An application called CAPS (COVID-19 ex-gratia payment system) for online approval and direct benefit transfer to the bank accounts of the applicants have been developed by the IT department. The compensations amount will be paid within 30 days of applications, officials said.

On Monday, Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena wrote to the district collectors to disburse the compensation from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

Within five days of receiving an application, the collector offices will have to send them to the tehsildars, who will verify and forward the same to the sub-collectors in a week.

The sub-collectors will forward the applications to the additional district magistrates with their remarks in four days. The ADMs will have to clear the same within four days while the collectors would approve in as many days. With the bill being generated in the next three days, the amount will be credited to the eligible beneficiaries’ bank accounts within another three days.

A nodal officer will be appointed in each district to deal with the ex-gratia matters.

All COVID deceased since the first death due to the deadly disease was reported in the country and till it is de-notified as a disaster are eligible for the compensation.