Covid-19: Tamil Nadu govt reduces relief amount for kin of deceased govt employees

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has revised its Covid-19 relief and sanctioned Rs 25 lakh each to the 28 family/legal heirs of government staff and local body employees who were engaged in frontline Covid-19 work and lost their lives due to the infectious disease. The members died between May 10 and June 26.
In April, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that Rs 50 lakh each would be extended as Covid relief to the bereaved families of officials and employees of all departments and local bodies involved in Covid-19 duty.
After careful consideration of the proposal of the commissioner of revenue administration, the state sanctioned a sum of Rs 25 lakh each to the families. “The relief has been revised due to more deaths and likely numbers in future,” said a senior official, seeking anonymity.
At least eight members, including a malaria worker, sanitary and conservancy staff, cemetery and office assistants, died of Covid-19 in Greater Chennai Corporation.
The rest are revenue inspector, executive officer of town panchayat, block development officer, dean of a government general hospital, staff nurse, pharmacist, inspectors, sub-inspectors, constables, tahsildar, village administrative officer, salesman of cooperative societies and PDS.