Kin of anti-Sikh riots victims to get enhanced compensation

NEW DELHI: Delhi government today approved the distribution of enhanced compensation cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims in the national capital, as announced by the Centre.

The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting today chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Delhi Secretariat here.

"Cabinet has decided to distribute enhanced compensation cheques as announced by the central government to the kin of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims.

"Later, Centre will refund the compensation amount to the state government as it was their scheme. We have estimated expenditure of Rs 120 crore on compensation," said a senior government official.

According to the government, there are around 2,300 kin of the riot victims who have not received enhanced compensation cheques for last six months.

In December last year, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had distributed enhanced compensation cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to the 17 kin of riot victims in West Delhi's Tilak Vihar area.

So far, 143 kin of victims of the anti-Sikh riots have been disbursed enhanced compensation cheques and around 2,300 were yet to be given it, sources said.

"Kin of several riot victims have not received enhanced compensation cheques so far. In view of this, Government will distribute compensation to them and later, central government will reimburse the compensation amount to the city government," the official also said.

In October last year, the BJP-led central government had decided to give Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of 3,325 victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The compensation to the families of the riot victims would be given in addition to what they have so far received from the government and other agencies from time to time.