[Marxistindia] Don't discriminate in compensation - Brinda Karat's letter to Delhi CM

[news from the cpi(m)]

January 6, 2021
 
Press Release
 
Don't Discriminate in Compensation
 
Smt. Brinda Karat, member, Polit Bureau of Communist Party of India
(Marxist) had written the following letter to the Chief Minister of Delhi
urging him to give compensation to the families of minor victims who were
killed in the communal violence in north east Delhi.
 
We are releasing the text of the letter for publication.
 
****
 
Dear Shri Arvind Kejriwal,
 
I recently re-met the family members of two victims, both minors, who were
killed in the communal violence in north east Delhi. They informed me of the
discrimination in the compensation given for the killing of a minor in the
Government's "compensation package" scheme. The compensation for an adult
who was killed is ten lakh rupees whereas the compensation for a minor is
put at five lakh rupees.
 
There were two such victims, Nitin Paswan the 15 year old son of Ram
Sugarak, and Amin, the 17 year old son of Shahabuddin.
 
Presumably, the difference in compensation is because an adult is an earning
member and the death of an earning member deprives the family of an income,
thus more compensation is required. This understanding devoid of compassion
itself is flawed but even within this framework, unfortunately, the usual
definition used of an "earning member" is not sensitive to the reality in
poor self employed families where children even while attending school, take
on adult responsibilities as far as assisting in family enterprises is
concerned.
 
Even on these grounds, both Nitin and Amin helped in the family earnings.
Nitin's father is an owner of a goods carrying handcart and Nitin often
helped him during his during his free time after school and on school
holidays. Amin was an apprentice in a motorbike repair shop and from time to
time assisted his family. Therefore if the ground for compensation is the
income loss to surviving members of the family of the victim then in both
cases the victims' families are eligible for the full compensation of ten
lakh rupees. 
 
But in addition, I believe the Delhi Government must take into consideration
the huge emotional loss, injury and trauma suffered by the parents of a
minor, killed in the terrible violence. This as we all know is incalculable.
It is only appropriate that a family suffering the loss of a child should be
compensated a fair amount as an expression of the sympathy of the Government
and society. In both the cases given the socio-economic profile of the
families when both the earning members are without a fixed income, it would
be in the interests of justice to extend the compensation to the ten lakhs
rupees which victims of the families have received from the Delhi
Government.
 
As you know the first death anniversary of their children will fall next
month, at the end of February. It will be an important message of justice
from your Government that both these families receive the remaining five
lakh rupees on such a sad occasion.
 
Hoping for a positive response,
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Sd/-
Brinda Karat
 
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