Kejriwal announces Rs 1 crore to kin of health workers who die treating COVID-19

The CM's assurance came after three doctors tested positive for COVID-19

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal [File] Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses a digital press conference on COVID-19 | Twitter via PTI

In an announcement that ended up sounding rather ominous, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today declared that his government would treat any doctor or nurse or any other healthcare worker who dies in the line of duty while taking care of COVID-19 patients on par with martyrs and their families will be given Rs 1 crore by the state dispensation.

“If a soldier gets martyred, our government has a scheme under which Rs 1 crore is given to his family. Our doctors and nurses and other healthcare workers are no less than soldiers. They are on the frontline of the battle against coronavirus,” Kejriwal said.

“God forbid, if anyone dies, the government will give their family Rs 1 crore. And this would apply to all, irrespective of whether he or she is on temporary or permanent service or in a government or a private hospital,” he said.

The chief minister had an interaction today with doctors who are on COVID-19 duty through video-conference to discuss the problems that they are facing while at work. He said a major problem highlighted by the doctors was that of security, saying some patients became aggressive, but it was difficult to restrain them as no one wanted to come in close proximity with them. Kejriwal was informed that a patient even tried to commit suicide at the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital.

“We will provide security to the doctors and the patients. We are talking to the police regarding this,” Kejriwal said.

He said doctors, nurses and others who are on COVID-19 duty are in isolation, hence the government has arranged for them to be provided food from five-star hotels. The Delhi government has also arranged for accommodation for the doctors, who are deployed in the coronavirus wards, in a five-star hotel.

During the interaction with Kejriwal, the doctors also highlighted the need for personal protective equipment and testing kits. The chief minister assured them that he would take up this issue with the Centre and with the manufacturing companies.

The government, meanwhile, has decided to track the movement of people who have been ordered to be under quarantine through their mobile phones.

“Countries like Singapore and South Korea are using technology to track people placed under quarantine. The Lt Governor and I agreed in our meeting today that we will seek the help of the police in tracking the mobile phones of people who have been ordered to stay under quarantine,” Kejriwal said.

Yesterday, the government had given a total of 11,084 phone numbers to the police to track. As many as 14,345 more phone numbers were to be given today. “It has come to our notice that some people are still not following the quarantine order. We will take strict action against such people,” he said.

📣 The Week is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TheWeekmagazine) and stay updated with the latest headlines