THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, April 28: The Jharkhand government has increased the ex gratia compensation for families of road accident victims to ₹4 lakh, bringing it on par with relief provided in other notified disasters. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Jharkhand State Disaster Management Authority, chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday.
The enhanced compensation replaces the earlier amount of ₹1 lakh and aims to provide greater financial support to bereaved families.
Other key decisions
The authority also approved simplifying the process of disbursing ex-gratia to victims of specific local disasters, with payments to be made after verification by the Deputy Commissioner.
To avoid duplication, beneficiaries covered under government insurance schemes will be eligible for either ex-gratia or insurance benefits.
The tenure of Capacity Enhancement Officers and District Disaster Management Officers was extended for 2026–27 under the ODMP scheme.
A database of Yuva Aapda Mitra volunteers will be created and linked with ERSS for faster emergency response, while SOPs and provisions for allowances will be prepared.
Approval was also granted for training 48 divers to address drowning incidents, with plans to expand the pool by involving police, Home Guards and women.
The meeting was attended by Disaster Management Minister Irfan Ansari and senior officials.