‘No job if money given to victims’

The Centre’s directive to the Uttar Pradesh government that if government jobs are being provided to the Muzaffarnagar riot victims no monetary compensation is to be given to them has jeopardised the Akhilesh government’s plan to win back Muslims by offering all kinds of compensation for the riots. The Centre, in a letter sent to the state government, has stated that financial assistance can be provided in case of death or permanent incapacitation to the affected families only if permanent employment was not provided alongside. UP principal home secretary R.M. Srivastava has now sent a letter to the Union home ministry seeking clarification on why riot victims cannot be sanctioned Central assistance as it would help the needy and poor. In the guidelines for granting financial assistance to victims of terrorist attacks, Naxal and communal violence there was no condition earlier related to employment on compassionate grounds, the principal home secretary wrote. The Centre’s letter said, “Under the Central scheme, in deserving cases, financial assistance of '3 lakh is given for each death or permanent incapacitation case to the affected family subject to the condition that no employment has been provided to any of the family members of the victims.” The Centre’s letter, meanwhile, delayed the disbursal of compensation to the Muzaffarnagar victims and has also created a piquant situation for the CM who had himself announced jobs for the kin of all those who had lost their lives in the communal clashes. The UP government has issued an order to provide government jobs to those killed during riots in Muzaffarnagar. and adjoining areas, an official spokesman said here Saturday. “Implementing the announcement made by CM Akhilesh Yadav on September 15 that kin of those killed in riots will be given government job according to their qualification, an order has been issued,” the spokesman said. The spokesman added that of the 62 people killed in the violence, five remain unidentified. In the case of one victim, the age of the kin is less than 18 years and he would be accommodated after attaining legal age. Seven persons would be given jobs in Group C while 47 people would be given jobs in Group D in various departments.