Many Delhi Riot Victims Get Paltry Sums in Compensation As Govt Aid Remains Arbitrary – By Yash Kumbhat and Eklavya Vasudev
….Faizan…. and Shabnam had laboured to make a comfortable life for themselves and for their children – neither had the heart to return to their home in Delhi and find it reduced to ashes…. on February 27, 2020, the Delhi government released its Assistance Scheme for the rehabilitation of riot survivors…. Rs 5,00,000 for total damage….
A few days later, in the first week of March 2020, a small team of government officials came to inspect the family’s house. Faizan and Shabnam took them through each room and meticulously documented all the possessions the rioters had stolen…. The officials clicked photographs and prepared an assessment report, but – despite Shabnam’s repeated requests that she be provided with a copy of it – they refused to share their findings….
Shortly thereafter, Shabnam was awarded an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 12,500. Then, four months later, in August, she received an additional Rs 37,500. All in all, the family was given a meagre Rs 50,000 as compensation for the total destruction of their house….
