Those who have lost loved ones due to the pandemic could soon see an extra 50,000 rupees in their bank accounts.

India’s government will officially begin paying every individual who has had a family member die because of Covid-19 in what is a landmark compensation scheme.

It comes after Justice MR Shah said each impacted next of kith and kin will receive 50,000 rupees, which equates to $674 Australia Dollars, per death.

The payments are expected to total around 300 million US dollars.

The compensation payments will be distributed within 30 days following a family’s submission of the application.

More than 447,000 people in India have died as a result of the pandemic.

Payments mandated under law

India introduced the payments after declaring the pandemic a disaster under their National Disaster Management Act.

The law came into effect in 2005 with its purpose to manage disasters including “preparation of mitigation strategies, capacity-building and compensation for lost lives, injuries and damaged properties,” according to BBC.

The nation’s Ministry of Home Affairs has issued affidavits offering compensation to family members of all Covid victims, including those who took their own life after receiving a positive virus test result.

Under the law, monetary payments of 400,000 rupees is to be paid to the family of victims who have lost their lives to a disaster.

A helping hand for struggling families

Gaurav Kumar Bansal, a petitioner for the law to be applied to the families of COVID-19 victims says all families can benefit from the payment, particularly in such testing times.

“We know the government has spent a lot of money in managing the pandemic,” Bansal tole the BBC.

“But we still think the government should have paid 400,000 rupees compensation to every affected family according to the law.”

The decision has also been upheld by India’s top court with the judges ruling that no state can immediately deny the compensation to those who request it.

Written by Rebecca Borg