Odisha Govt Mulling ‘Golden Handshake’ For Rehabilitation Of Family After Death Of Employee: Law Minister

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is contemplating introduction of ‘golden handshake’ policy for the rehabilitation of family in case of death of an employee.

Giving this information at an event, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said a lump sum financial assistance can be provided to the family of a deceased employee if employment based on the rehabilitation system is not possible.

As per the rehabilitation policy of 1990, in case of death of a government employee a member of his/her family could get employment on compassionate ground, he said.

“However, changes were made in the policy in 2020 by the then government which virtually ruled out providing employment to family member of a deceased employee,” the Minister said, adding that cases relating to death which had taken place before 2020 were also considered on the basis of the changed policy.

As a result, nobody from the affected families could get government employment and those who applied for jobs had to encounter legal hurdles, Harichandan said, adding that approval of the Law department is required for such cases.

Stating that the issue was discussed threadbare in a recent Cabinet meeting, he said top officials including the Chief Secretary presented their views on the matter.

Under the circumstances, if the government is not in a position to provide employment to the kin of a deceased employee, a ‘golden handshake’ of Rs 30 to 40 lakh may be considered as part of the rehabilitation scheme, the Minister said.