The kin of Kolkata municipal area residents who died from Covid-19 can now apply to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to get an ex-gratia.
A senior KMC official said that only those whose address in Aadhaar card and voter card show they are residents of the Kolkata municipal area would be given the ex-gratia by the KMC.
Residents of other municipalities or municipal corporations in the state have to apply to the civic body that serves the area where they are permanent residents. Residents in panchayat areas have to apply to their panchayats.
The KMC has uploaded the application form on its website. The form can be found on the right hand side of the KMC’s homepage, under the menu ‘Quick Links’. The form has been uploaded with the title “Ex-gratia related to Covid-19 death”.
An official said the application form is common for the whole state and residents outside the Kolkata municipal area can also use it to apply in their respective places.
An information leaflet uploaded with the form says that up to Rs 50,000 will be offered as ex-gratia. According to the leaflet, kin or immediate family members will be spouses and children. In case others in the family claim the ex-gratia, the decision will be taken after verifying documents.
The application form has a section where the borough chairperson or councilor has to sign, but with KMC elections having been announced, there are no borough chairpersons or councilors in Kolkata now.
A senior KMC official clarified that the claimants can approach the ward medical officer, who has an office in the ward’s health clinic, with the form.
“The councillor or the borough chairperson’s signature will not be required. The ward medical officer will verify the documents and forward it to the appropriate authority for processing,” said the official.
The documents that have to be submitted along with the application form are:
⚫ The death certificate of the deceased that mentions Covid
⚫ Aadhaar card or voter identity card of the deceased
⚫ Aadhaar card or voter identity card of the ex-gratia claimant
⚫ Photocopy of the first page of the bank passbook or a cancelled cheque with details of the account where the money has to be transferred
⚫ Legal heir certificate
⚫ An affidavit issued by a magistrate
The application forms will also be available in the office of the borough executive health officer, who heads KMC’s health services in that borough.
A KMC official said that though there is no deadline for applying for the ex-gratia, kin and family members should apply at the earliest.
“According to the Supreme Court’s order, the ex-gratia amount must be handed over by December 10. We will try to hand over the amount to all those whose details we have with us. Those who apply now will get the ex-gratia after a few days. We will try to release the amount as quickly as possible if all documents are in place,” said the official.