Centre frames guidelines to help victims of terror, communal violence

New Delhi, July 24 : The Centre has formulated detailed guidelines for implementing the Central Scheme for Assistance to Victims of Terrorist and Communal Violence.

The guidelines have been sent to the States and Union Territories. The Union Cabinet approved the Scheme in March.

The broad aim of the scheme is to assist victims of terrorist violence and communal violence. Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs. 3 lakh is admissible to the family member(s) in the event of death or permanent incapacitation of the victim who was the bread-winner/householder of the family.

The principal amount would be put in a fixed deposit account [Joint or Single in the name of the Family member(s)] in a nationalized bank.

If there is no nationalized bank within the vicinity of the residence of the beneficiary, account may be opened in any scheduled commercial bank.

It would have a minimum lock-in period of 3 years or, if there are only minor children in the family, till the eldest child attains the age of majority, whichever is later.

The interest on the sum would be credited directly by the bank to the beneficiary's saving account on a quarterly basis.

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.

In addition, those permanently incapacitated, and the members of the family of the victims' killed/permanently incapacitated in terrorist or communal violence would also be given a health card by the District Health Society, functioning under the National Rural Health Mission.

ANI