1984 anti-Sikh riots: Centre announces Rs 5L compensation to kin of 3325 victims

New Delhi: In a significant move, the Narendra Modi government on Thursday announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to be given to the kin of 3325 people killed during anti-Sikh riots in the national capital in 1984.

The order was passed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who took the decision after a high-level meeting where the issue of compensation to civilian victims of communal, terrorist or Naxal violence was discussed threadbare, a Home Ministry official said.

Government also enhanced the compensation to civilian victims of communal, terrorist or Naxal violence from Rs three lakh to Rs five lakh.

Till now the next of kin of persons killed or civilians who suffered permanent incapacitation as a result of such violence were paid Rs 3 lakh as per provisions of the Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist, Communal, Naxal violence since 2008.

Assistance would be given to the surviving spouse in case of death or permanent incapacitation of the husband or the wife, as the case may be.

However, if both the husband and the wife died in same incident of violence, the family would be entitled to get the assistance, in each case, the official said.

Families of the victims would be eligible to get assistance under the scheme even if they have received any other assistance, by way of payment of ex-gratia or any other type of relief from the government or any other source except when a similar scheme is already being implemented by the Central government.

Government had disbursed Rs 6.12 crore as compensation to civilian victims in 204 incidents of terrorist, communal and naxal violence in 2011-12 and Rs 3.99 crore to civilian victims in 133 such incidents in 2012-13.

No reimbursement could be made to any civilian victims in incidents of terrorist, communal and Naxal violence during 2013-14 and 2014-15 (till July) as the state governments did not send the proposals.

Nearly 3325 people were killed in the communal riots triggered by the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 by her body guards.