by Babra Wani
SRINAGAR: The government has paid a compensation of Rs 85 crore to the families of 40 CRPF personnel who were killed in the car bomb explosion at Lethpora on February 14, 2009, MoS Home Rai told the parliament. He was responding to the question of Congress leader Digvijay Singh in Rajya Sabha on July 26.
Put together, the detailed response tabled in the house said a total of Rs 84,95,85,764 has been given as compensation to the families of the paramilitary men who fell in the line of duty. The compensation included the amount given or donated by either the Central or State government or individuals and corporate donors.
Besides the amount, the minister stated that other compensations in the form of jobs were also provided to the families.
While in some cases the wife of the deceased received the compensation, in others they showed their unwillingness and wanted their children to be given jobs as and when they reach the age when they become eligible for government jobs. The information indicated that all these slain paramilitary men were young and their children are still being schooled.
In 20 cases, the next of kin has been provided jobs and in at least two cases the slain were bachelors whose parents are not eligible for any jobs. In all other cases, the families have requested that the jobs be reserved for the orphans which they will claim once they reach the age when they can join the government.
