Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will provide ex-gratia in case of death or disability of members of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) in the state. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved a proposal in this regard today.

Members of the Panchayati Raj institutions starting from the ward members to Zilla Parishad members will be covered under the initiative, said the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in a statement.

The state government will provide Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia to the next of the kin of members of Panchayati Raj Institutions in case of death during their tenure, added the CMO.

Similarly, the members of the Panchayati Raj institutions will get Rs 2 lakh as financial assistance for loss of both eyes, hands and legs in accident.

The government will provide Rs 1 lakh as financial assistance in case of partial deformity in accident, said the CMO.

“The members of Panchayati Raj Institutions play a key role in the development of rural areas and redressal of people’s grievances. Taking this into consideration, the state government has decided to provide ex-gratia for the death or disability of members of Panchayati Raj Institutions,” added the CMO.