Zoom News : May 30, 2021, 07:47 AM
New Delhi: The government on Saturday announced a slew of measures to help families who have lost their earning members to coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The Centre will provide pensions to such families and an enhanced and liberalised insurance compensation, according to a release from the Press Information Bureau (PIB).Prime Minister Narendra Modi said through these schemes, efforts are being made to mitigate financial difficulties that may be faced by them.1. Family Pension under Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)To help families live a life of dignity and maintain a good standard of living, the benefit of ESIC pension scheme for employment related death cases is being extended to even those who have died due to Covid-19. Dependent family members of such persons will be entitled to the benefit of pension equivalent to 90% of average daily wage drawn by the worker as per the existing norms. This benefit will be available retrospectively with effect from 24.03.2020 and for all such cases till March 24, 2022.2.Employees Provident Fund Organisation - Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI)The insurance benefits under the EDLI scheme have been enhanced and liberalized. Apart from all other beneficiaries, this will in particular help the families of employees who have lost their lives due to Covid-19. Amount of maximum insurance benefit has been increased from ₹6 lakh to ₹7 lakhThe provision of minimum insurance benefit of ₹2.5 lakh has been restored and will apply retrospectively from February 15, 2020, for the next three years.To benefit families of contractual/ casual workers, the condition of continuous employment in only one establishment has been liberalised, with benefit being made available to families of even those employees who may have changed jobs in the last 12 months preceding his death.The detailed guidelines of these schemes are being issued by the ministry of labour and employment.