Odisha govt announces financial assistance for kin of teachers who died on COVID-19 duty

Odisha government on Wednesday anunced financial assistance for kin of teachers who died while on COVID-19 duty, a state minister said.

assistance will be given at rate of last pay drawn, along with dearness allowance as missible from time to time, till date of superannuation of teacher, h he remained alive.

School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash said, 13 teachers deployed on COVID-19 duty have so far died of vel coronavirus in Ganjam district alone.

Over 62,000 teachers have been assigned responsibility of COVID-19 manment in temporary medical camps (TMCs), COVID care centres and COVID care homes, he said.

" kin of deceased will get financial assistance as per tification issued by Finance Department on August 4," Dash told PTI.

tification issued by Finance Department says that spouse or family members of deceased employee will get COVID Warrior Family Assistance at rate of last pay drawn/ due along with DA as missible from time to time till rmal date of superannuation of deceased government servant, h he remained alive.

minister also informed that officials of his department h on Tuesday visited houses of teachers who died and declared m as COVID-19 warriors.

It has been decided to hand over assistance to family members of 12 teachers soon, minister said. decision has been taken in case of a teacher identified as Simanchal Satpathy, who also died in line of duty, as he was a bachelor, Dash said.

His parents allegedly died by suicide after coming to kw of Satpathy's death, police sources said. government is considering providing assistance to his family members, he said.

"Although this is a tragic incident, my department feels proud of se teachers who have sacrificed ir lives in relentless fight against dely infection," Dash said.

state government h in April anunced an ex- gratia of Rs 50 lakh for families of all frontline workers - doctors and or health care professionals - who die of virus while deployed for COVID-19 duties.

Meanwhile, Odisha Secondary School Teachers Association (OSSTA) secretary Prakash Mohanty said, "We have alrey me a demand of Rs 50 lakh for kin of deceased teachers at par with health workers."

(Photo Credit: PTI)