The Government of India has implemented a revised “Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims/Family of Victims of Terrorist, Communal and Naxal Violence.” This scheme aims to provide financial support and other forms of assistance to those affected by various forms of violence, including terrorism, communal riots, and naxalite activities. The revised guidelines detail eligibility criteria, the nature of assistance, and the procedures for accessing this support.
Scheme Objectives
The broad objective of this scheme is to assist civilian victims and their families who have suffered loss of life or permanent incapacitation due to terrorist, communal, or naxal violence. The scheme recognizes the need to provide support to individuals and families who become victims of circumstances beyond their control.
Definitions
The scheme defines key terms to clarify the scope of coverage:
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Terrorism: Includes militancy and insurgency-related violence, as defined under Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
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Communal Violence: Refers to planned and organized acts of violence by members of one community against another, expressing ill-will or hatred.
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Naxal Violence: Includes planned acts of violence by members of CPI (Maoists) and their affiliated organizations, which are banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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Permanent Incapacitation: A disability of 50% or more, which is of a permanent nature, and renders the victim unfit for normal life.
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Next of Kin: As certified by the District Collector/Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner.
Eligibility Criteria
The financial assistance is provided to:
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Family members in the event of death or permanent incapacitation of a victim due to terrorist, communal, or naxal violence.
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Surviving spouses in case of death or permanent incapacitation of a husband or wife.
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Families of victims even if they have received other forms of relief, except when a similar scheme is already being implemented by the Central Government.
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Next of kin of employees of Central Government, CPSEs, Autonomous Institutions, and other Government Organizations, including State Governments and State PSEs, who have died or been permanently incapacitated due to terrorist, communal, or naxal violence.
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Foreign Nationals and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are also eligible.
Nature of Assistance
The scheme provides the following forms of assistance:
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Financial Assistance: Rs. 3 lakh is provided for each death or permanent incapacitation. This amount is placed into a fixed deposit account (either jointly or singly) with a lock-in period of 3 years or until the eldest minor child reaches majority. Interest is credited quarterly, and the principal amount is transferred to the beneficiary’s savings account after the lock-in period.
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Medical Assistance: Health cards are provided to the permanently incapacitated and family members of victims, entitling them to free medical treatment under the National Rural Health Mission and other relevant schemes.
Procedures for Claiming Assistance
The process for claiming assistance involves several steps:
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Eligible claimants must file their claims within 3 years of the incident through the concerned District Magistrate (DM)/State Government. This time limit can be relaxed in deserving cases.
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The District Level Committee, headed by the DM/Collector, verifies the eligibility of the claimants.
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The District Committee then makes its recommendations within 15 days of receiving the claim.
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The District Collector may recommend assistance on their own with suitable justification.
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The processing of the application should be completed within 3 weeks.
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The sanction order is issued by the DM/DC on behalf of the State Government.
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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reimburses the state government based on audited accounts.
Key Responsibilities
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The State Government is responsible for widely disseminating information about the scheme.
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The MHA will make ad-hoc payments to the State Government, which will be adjusted after audit.
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The MHA will ensure that claims are not duplicated under other schemes.
Conclusion
The revised guidelines of the Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims/Family of Victims of Terrorist, Communal and Naxal Violence represent the Indian government’s commitment to providing comprehensive support to those affected by violence. By streamlining the process, ensuring transparency, and providing financial and medical assistance, the scheme aims to offer a measure of relief and support to those who have suffered due to circumstances beyond their control.