Odisha Election Commission revises compensation for poll officials

Bhubaneswar: In a significant development, the State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha has revised the scale for payment of ex-gratia amount to families of those, who die or sustain injuries leading to incapacitation, whether by accident or any other means in course of election duty.

The revised amount will also be applicable to those, who die of COVID 19 during the ensuing Panchayat Polls-2022 and thereafter, including by-elections.

As per the revised order, Rs 30 lakh will be provided as ex-gratia, if the death is caused during election duty, due to any violent act of extremist or anti-social elements in road mines, bomb blast, armed attacks.

Besides, Rs 15 lakh will be given in case of death arising out of and in course of election duty due to any other reasons. The same amount will be provided as compensation in case of permanent disability (i.e loss of limb, eyesight etc) caused due to any violent act of extremist or antisocial elements inroad mines, bomb blast, armed attacks etc.

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This apart, Rs 7.50 lakh compensation will be extended to those on-duty election personnel, who will suffer permanent disability (i.e. loss of limb,
eye sight etc.), whether by accident or by any other means arising out of and in
course of election duty. A maximum of Rs 2 lakh will be given for grievous injuries and multiple fractures caused by accident or by any other means arising out of and in course ofelection duty leading to temporary and prolonged incapacitation, said the order issued by the SEC.

“The rate of ex-gratia compensation for death due to COVID-19 is Rs 30 lakh. And, cashless medical treatment facility will be extended to those to be infected by the virus during election duty,” the order read.

However, the death certificate specifying the reason of death has to issued by the medical officer and countersigned by the CDMO concerned certifying specifically that the death is caused due to COVID-19.

The duty period will is be counted from the date and time of reporting for election duty before the Election Officer till the date he/she is relieved.