CAG finds delay in payment of ex-gratia

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, July 29: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has found that there had been inordinate delay in payment of ex-gratia in case of death of civilians in extremist violence in Odisha.As per Security Related Expenditure (SRE) guidelines, in case of death of civilians in extremist violence, the District Magistrate concerned is required to collect the application and send it to the General Administration Department for sanction and disbursement of the quantum of assistance to the next of kin for sanction, at the rate of Rs.1 lakh per family up to October 2006 and thereafter at the rate of Rs.2 lakh, out of which Rs.1 lakh is reimbursable under SRE scheme.Scrutiny of 41 cases of ex-gratia payment in two (Koraput and Rayagada) out of four sampled districts revealed that in 28 (68 per cent) cases, payment of ex-gratia to families was made with delays ranging between 10 months and 28 months.In two other cases though sanctions were accorded, payment was not made even after 20 to 27 months from date of death of civilians, according to the CAG report that was tabled in Odisha Assembly on Monday.In the rest 11 cases, sanctions were not accorded even after a lapse of 13 months to 42 months from the date of death of civilians.Government stated (November 2013) that cases were found to be delayed as wide coordination is required among different departments/ establishments of Government.“The fact, however, remained that the families of the victims did not get assistance in time,” the CAG said.Besides, there was delay and inadequate payment of rehabilitation package to the persons who surrendered defeating the objectives of the scheme aimed at weaning away misguided youths from Left Wing Extremism and bring them back to mainstream, the CAG pointed out.