Coal India to pay ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh to next of kin of staff who die of Coronavirus

• The proposal received a nod from the board of directors at Coal India during a meeting earlier in August

• 'The ex-gratia amount would not be paid in case of an employee/ contract worker…on long unauthorised absence,' as per the order

New Delhi: Coal India Limited has said that it will pay an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh to the next of kin of employees, including contractual employees, who die due to Coronavirus infection. The proposal received a nod from the board of directors at Coal India during a meeting earlier in August. An official order reviewed by PSU Watch said, "The board of directors of CIL… accorded the approval of payment of ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh to the next of kin of employees of CIL and its subsidiaries including contract workers dying due to COVID-19 w.e.f March 24, 2020."

Coal India had been running operations throughout the duration of the lockdown, albeit in a curtailed manner, because it was considered an essential service to facilitate power generation. There are four lakh workers on roll and on contract at the state-run miner.

'Coal India employees who are on unauthorised leave cannot avail the benefit'

The dependency criteria will be adopted as being followed for payment of ex-gratia amount of Rs 15 lakh to the eligible dependent of non-executive cadre employees, including contractor workers, dying due to fatal mine accident as certified by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), it said. "The ex-gratia amount would not be paid in case of an employee/ contract worker…on long unauthorised absence," as per the order.

Also read: Demise of any CIL employee due to Covid will be treated as accidental death: Pralhad Joshi

Govt had said Coronavirus-related deaths will be treated as accidental deaths

Union Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi had said earlier in July that the death of Coal Indian Limited's (CIL) employees because of Covid will be treated as accidental death and the kins of the employee will get the same financial benefits as they get in the case of accidental death during duty. "Putting their lives in danger, Coal Indians have performed a tremendous job during COVID-19 pandemic. They are relentlessly doing a good job. That's why I proudly call them Coal Warriors. I have announced this benefit just to recognise their invaluable service to the nation," Joshi had said.

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