Karnataka: Compensation of Rs 1 lakh to BPL families which lost a member to Covid

Bengaluru: On Monday, the Karnataka government announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for people below the poverty line whose adult members have been succumbed to Covid-19. This one-time cash assistance will be limited to one person per family.

CM BS Yediyurappa said, “The pandemic has claimed the lives of earning members of several poor families and pushed them into extreme financial distress. Keeping this in mind, we have decided to offer them the assistance.”

The Karnataka CM said that the state will be the first one to provide such a compensation. He said that this gives relief to around 30,000 people in the state and it would cost the exchequer between Rs 250 crore and Rs 350 crore.

On Monday the health and family welfare bulletin stated that the state had logged 33,033 Covid fatalities till now. The CM said this compensation is an extension of the Rs 1,600 crore economic relief package declared in two parts till now for workers from organised sectors whose lives have been impacted by Covid and the consequent curfews since April 27.

He said, “Given our financial situation, we have been able to announce this scheme. This shows our situation is better than most states during the pandemic. Nowhere in the country has such a scheme been announced.”

Tourist guides to get Rs 5k each

On Monday, tourist minister CP Yogeeshwara announced financial aid of Rs 5,000 each to tourist guides, who are facing hardship due to the pandemic lockdown. The state has 384 registered tourist guides and every one of them is expected to get the package next month.

He added that the proposal to grant aid of Rs 3,000 each to hotel employees are also being discussed.