Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 26: The government will provide ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to students who are killed or permanently disabled in road accidents on the way to or back from school, accidents in the school building and food poisoning because of the consumption of mid-day meals, according to a notification issued by the school and mass education department.
In cases where the victim would have to be shifted out of the district for better treatment, the government would provide Rs 30,000, it said. In other cases, the students will get Rs 10,000, under the guidelines that will come into force on Utkal Diwas.
Many incidents have taken place, following which many PILs have been filed before the high court and human rights commissions. The court has also urged the government to disburse the compensation and the government has paid this out of the Chief Ministers Relief Fund (CMRF).
“Considering these aspects, government has decided to implement the scheme to provide ex-gratia grant for students who met with accidents in school or while travelling to and from the schools and when involved in school related activities,” the notification said.
Students from class I to VIII are not covered under any insurance policy. However, there is a student safety insurance scheme in place for students of secondary education in the State.
Around 57 lakh students from class I to VIII and about 12 lakh students from class VII to X will be covered under the scheme.
The district Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan committee under the chairmanship of the collector will monitor the scheme at district level, while the secondary education director will review it at the state level and submit the report to government every quarter.