The Greater Chennai Corporation has not disbursed the Rs 25 lakh relief announced by the State government to the families of four permanent workers of the civic body who had died due to COVID-19. This apart, unions said at least four temporary workers had died due to the viralinfection, whose families are not being given the relief amount.
Chennai:
According to a Corporation official, 12 permanent employees had died due to the disease and Rs 25 lakh has been provided to 8 of the families. “Processes are on to provide the relief fund to the remaining employees’ families,” the official said.
This apart, 51 Corporation officials and frontline workers who contracted the virus while at work and recovered were given Rs 2 lakh fund announced by the government.
“In all, 118 permanent employees had contracted the disease and recovered. We have sent the list of all the deceased employees and infected employees. Once the government approves, funds will be disbursed to remaining employees,” the official added.
Meanwhile, the workers’ union urged the civic body to take measures to provide a relief amount to the families of contract workers, too.
“The civic body is providing the relief only to the families of permanent employees. It should provide the assistance to the contract workers and NULM employees. At least 4 to 5 temporary workers had died due to COVID-19, “ said L Srinivasan of Chennai Corporation Redflag Employees’ Association.
He added the families of the deceased permanent employees are yet to get Rs 50 lakh insurance amount that was promised by the State government.
The civic body had recently conducted interviews to provide suitable jobs on compassionate grounds to the kin of the deceased permanent employees. Meanwhile, the civic body reinstated more than 290 temporary employees who were dismissed a few months ago for participating in a protest.
Also, four office bearers of the Chennai Corporation Redflag Employees’ Association, who were suspended on the charges of organising the protest, were also reinstated on Thursday.
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