NEW DELHI: While the Centre and state governments have been quick to announce compensation or ex gratia to the road crash victims and their kin, a recent study by the World Bank on families of road accident victims in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Bihar has found that families of only 11% victims from poor and 8% from high income categories availed the government compensation.
Ex-gratia is given mostly by the state, central or local authorities in some instances in the event of a crash. It is given to the victims or their families in case the victim either dies in the crash or survives with severe injuries.
The study carried out by the SaveLIFE Foundation found that among those who availed compensation under ex-gratia, just over half of the victims were from low income households while one-fourth of the high income households received the eligible compensation. It also found that only 25% of the low income families of victims were aware of the compensation process and insurance clauses.
Times View: It is a matter of concern that only 11% of the poor have received ex-gratia compensation for fatal road accidents. Surely, it cannot be the case that they don’t want to avail of the facility. It is more likely that they are either unaware or find the process of claiming the money too arduous. The government should look into this aspect and find remedial measures.