Bhubaneswar: In view of escalating COVID-19 cases in second wave of the pandemic, Odisha Government decided to continue with earlier policy to provide financial assistance to next kin of frontline COVID warriors who lost their lives in battle against the deadly virus.

As per the order issued by Odisha Health & Family Welfare Department last year, the financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh will be provided to the spouse or next kin of persons who die of COVID-19 while in active line of duty and are not found eligible for insurance coverage under the guidelines 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) : Insurance Scheme for Health workers Fighting COVID-19' announced by the Government of India.

The financial assistance will be provided to the Spouse/Next of Kin of any person drafted
by Govt. or its agencies to perform COVID-19 related duties and succumb to it while
in active line of duty as defined in Corrigendum No. 179411H dated,29.07.2020.

As per the decision, all other terms and conditions as enumerated in the guideline issued dated July 20, 2020 shall remain unaltered.

Last year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced the ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh for family members of COVID warriors including healthcare workers, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and policemen engaged on COVID-19 duty who succumb to the infection.