Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Vital relief: On COVID-19 death compensation

Vital relief: On COVID-19 death compensation

The court-mediated (अदालत की मध्यस्थता) decision for COVID-19 death compensation (मुआवजा, भुगतान) will help the poorest

It took an assertive (निश्चयपूर्वक, दृढ़-इच्छाशक्ति, आग्रहपूर्ण) Supreme Court to persuade (राज़ी करना, आश्वस्त करना) a reluctant (अनिच्छुक, विरोध करने वाला) Centre, and in a welcome turn of events, families of those who died of COVID-19 are to get ex gratia (अनुग्रहपूर्वक) financial relief (राहत, सहायता) of ₹50,000 per deceased (मृतक, मर गया, समाप्त हो गया) individual within 30 days of submitting the necessary documents. The staggering (आश्चर्यजनक, चौंकाने वाला, परेशान करने वाला) impact of the pandemic (वैश्विक महामारी) cannot be meaningfully (अर्थपूर्ण ढंग से, गंभीरता से, ईमानदारी से) addressed with a token (टोकन, प्रतीकात्मक) sum, but it nevertheless (फिर भी) provides immediate succour (aid/help/support, assistance, relief (during difficulty)) to families that have lost breadwinners (the primary or sole income earner in a family) and productive (उत्पादक, मूल्यवान, सहायक) members. No other scourge in living memory has taken a toll (adverse effect, undesirable consequence; damage, suffering, loss) of tens of thousands of lives in 18 months, although India has high chronic and invisible mortality ((in a particular time/for a cause) the rate/number of death; death, loss of life) due to disease and road traffic accidents. As of September 13, WHO recorded 4,45,768 COVID-19 deaths in India and 3,35,31,498 confirmed cases, indicating that the current ex gratia outlay (payment, disbursement, expenditure, expenses, spending) would be of the order of (roughly, approximately, about, more or less) ₹2,300 crore. The relief amount proposed by the National Disaster Management Authority (The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister of India, is the apex body for Disaster Management in India. Setting up of NDMA and the creation of an enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at the State and District levels is mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005) is to be paid out of the State Disaster Response Fund (State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is constituted under the section 48 of (1) (a) of DM act 2005 is a primary fund available with State Government for responses to notified disaster. Central Government contribute 75% of SDRF allocation for general category States/UTs and 90% for special category States (North East State, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir). The annual contribution is released in two equal instalments as per the recommendation of the finance commission. SDRF shall be used only for meeting the expenditure for providing immediate relief to the victims), which represents a dedicated (exclusive, allocated, assigned (for a particular purpose)) facility (resource) to deal with notified disasters, including COVID-19; State authorities (the government, the administration, the establishment, the bureaucracy, the system) will create a people-friendly (suitable for people; designed with the needs or interests of people in mind) claims (request, application) mechanism (procedure, process, method, technique). Fresh audits (inspection, examination, assessment, investigation) and recertification of deaths have become an important factor, given (considering, taking into account, bearing in mind) the move (step, action, measure, tack, tactic, trick) by several States to keep virus mortality numbers low, attribute (assign, ascribe, regard something being caused by something else; connect with, associate with) a significant number of deaths to co-morbidities (In medicine, co-morbidity is the presence of one or more additional conditions (diseases) co-occurring/co-existing with a primary condition (disease)) rather than the infection, and the indisputable (unquestionable, undeniable, beyond doubt) undercounting of lives lost in the two phases of the pandemic.

The ex gratia payment decision puts the issue of compensation on a sound (well founded, valid, reasonable, logical, solid, convincing, credible, reliable) footing (basis, base, condition), and provides clarity for future cases, but the task before the States is to ensure that the process is easy, accurate and empathetic (compassionate/humane, sympathetic, understanding). It should be possible for such claimants (applicant (for compensation)) to submit a simple form electronically. More challenging will be the issue of resolving cases where the medical certification of cause of death has not acknowledged (accept, recognize, realize) it as COVID-19. In fact, such disputes have already entered the realm (area, field, domain (of activity)) of litigation, with families seeking (request, ask for, appeal, demand; try to obtain) judicial relief, because doctors refuse proper certification and cite underlying (relating to the chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer and kidney disease)) conditions of patients based on Government instructions. Also, the Centre must consider providing additional compensation in the future, treating COVID-19 on a par with other disasters such as cyclones (hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm; depression), major accidents, building collapses and industrial mishaps, where the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was established entirely with public contributions and does not get any budgetary support. PMNRF accepts voluntary contributions from Individuals, Organizations, Trusts, Companies and Institutions etc. All contributions towards PMNRF are exempt from Income Tax under section 80(G). The resources of the PMNRF are utilized to render immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc) has been sanctioning (authorize, permit, allow, approve) ₹2 lakh for death and ₹50,000 for serious injury. In a positive move, the demand for inclusion of COVID-19 cases for compensation where people took their own lives due to mental agony has been accepted. Going forward, the Centre must now quickly set up (form, create, institute, establish) risk insurance for disasters as suggested by the XV Finance Commission (The Fifteenth Finance Commission was constituted on 27 November 2017 against the backdrop of the abolition of the Planning Commission (as also of the distinction between Plan and non-Plan expenditure) and the introduction of the goods and services tax (GST), which has fundamentally redefined federal fiscal relations. It is constituted to give recommendations for devolution of taxes and other fiscal matters for five fiscal years, commencing 01.04.2020), to which States will readily (willingly, unhesitatingly, voluntarily; easily, without difficulty, effortlessly) contribute.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.vital (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - महत्वपूर्ण, आवश्यक
English Meaning - key, essential, important.

2.relief (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राहत, सहायता
English Meaning - (financial) help, aid, assistance, succour.

3.compensation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मुआवजा, भुगतान
English Meaning - payment, repayment, settlement (for loss/damage). 

4.court-mediated (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अदालत की मध्यस्थता
English Meaning - intervened & brought about by the court.

5.assertive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - निश्चयपूर्वक, दृढ़-इच्छाशक्ति, आग्रहपूर्ण
English Meaning - strong-willed, insistent, firm, determined, authoritative.

6.persuade (verb)

Hindi Meaning - राज़ी करना, आश्वस्त करना
English Meaning - convince, persuade, assure, make certain.

7.reluctant (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अनिच्छुक, विरोध करने वाला
English Meaning - unwilling, disinclined, resisting, opposed, hesitant.

8.ex gratia (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अनुग्रहपूर्वक
English Meaning - Latin, literally ‘from favour’. An ex gratia payment is one that is given as a favour or gift instead of legal obligation/liability.

9.deceased (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - मृतक, मर गया, समाप्त हो गया
English Meaning - dead, expired, passed away.

10.staggering (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - आश्चर्यजनक, चौंकाने वाला, परेशान करने वाला
English Meaning - shocking, distressing, surprising.

11.pandemic (noun)

Hindi Meaning - वैश्विक महामारी
English Meaning - the worldwide spread of a new disease; The illness spreads around the world and typically affects a large number of people across a wide area.

12.meaningfully (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - अर्थपूर्ण ढंग से, गंभीरता से, ईमानदारी से
English Meaning - seriously, sincerely.

13.token (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - टोकन, प्रतीकात्मक
English Meaning - symbolic, emblematic, indicative; nominal, small, insignificant, unimportant.

14.nevertheless (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - फिर भी
English Meaning - in spite of everything, notwithstanding, regardless, anyway, anyhow, however.

15.productive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - उत्पादक, मूल्यवान, सहायक
English Meaning - valuable, useful, helpful. 

16.address (verb)

English Meaning - tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.

17.turn of events (phrase)

English Meaning - development, incident, occurrence/happening, circumstance, phenomenon.

18.sum (noun)

English Meaning - a particular amount of money.

19.token sum/payment (noun)

English Meaning - a very small payment/compensation.

20.succour (noun)

English Meaning - aid/help/support, assistance, relief (during difficulty).

21.breadwinner (noun)

English Meaning - the primary or sole income earner in a family.

22.scourge (noun)

English Meaning - misfortune, burden/bane, affliction.

23.toll (noun)

English Meaning - adverse effect, undesirable consequence; damage, suffering, loss.

24.take its toll (phrase)

English Meaning - have a serious/adverse effect on someone/something; cause damage to someone/something; cause suffering.

25.chronic (adjective)

English Meaning - (of a disease) continuing, persisting, reoccurring (for a long time).

26.mortality (noun)

English Meaning - (in a particular time/for a cause) the rate/number of death; death, loss of life.

27.outlay (noun)

English Meaning - payment, disbursement, expenditure, expenses, spending.

28.of the order of (phrase)

English Meaning - roughly, approximately, about, more or less.

29.National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) (noun)

English Meaning - The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister of India, is the apex body for Disaster Management in India. Setting up of NDMA and the creation of an enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at the State and District levels is mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005    .

30.pay out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - spend, hand over, give (money).

31.State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) (noun)

English Meaning - State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is constituted under the section 48 of (1) (a) of DM act 2005 is a primary fund available with State Government for responses to notified disaster. Central Government contribute 75% of SDRF allocation for general category States/UTs and 90% for special category States (North East State, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir). The annual contribution is released in two equal instalments as per the recommendation of the finance commission. SDRF shall be used only for meeting the expenditure for providing immediate relief to the victims.

32.dedicated (adjective)

English Meaning - exclusive, allocated, assigned (for a particular purpose).

33.facility (noun)

English Meaning - resource.

34.authorities (noun)

English Meaning - the government, the administration, the establishment, the bureaucracy, the system.

35.people-friendly (noun)

English Meaning - suitable for people; designed with the needs or interests of people in mind.

36.claim (noun)

English Meaning - request, application.

37.mechanism (noun)

English Meaning - procedure, process, method, technique.

38.audit (noun)

English Meaning - inspection, examination, assessment, investigation.

39.given (preposition)

English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

40.move (noun)

English Meaning - step, action,  measure, tack, tactic, trick.

41.attribute (verb)

English Meaning - assign, ascribe, regard something being caused by something else; connect with, associate with.

42.co-morbidity (noun)

English Meaning - In medicine, co-morbidity is the presence of one or more additional conditions (diseases) co-occurring/co-existing with a primary condition (disease).

43.rather than (phrase)

English Meaning - instead of.

44.indisputable (adjective)

English Meaning - unquestionable, undeniable, beyond doubt.

45.readily (adverb)

English Meaning - willingly, unhesitatingly,  voluntarily; easily, without difficulty, effortlessly.

46.undercounting (noun)

English Meaning - an incorrect & low counting.

47.put something on (phrase)

English Meaning - provide, furnish, make available.

48.sound (adjective)

English Meaning - well founded, valid, reasonable, logical, solid, convincing, credible, reliable.

49.footing (noun)

English Meaning - basis, base, condition.

50.empathetic (adjective)

English Meaning - compassionate/humane, sympathetic, understanding.

51.claimant (noun)

English Meaning - applicant (for compensation).

52.acknowledge (verb)

English Meaning - accept, recognize, realize.

53.realm (noun)

English Meaning - area, field, domain (of activity).

54.litigation (noun)

English Meaning - legal action, lawsuit, legal case.

55.seek (verb)

English Meaning - request, ask for, appeal, demand; try to obtain.

56.cite (verb)

English Meaning - refer to, make reference to, mention, allude to, point to.

57.underlying (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to the chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer and kidney disease).

58.on a par with (phrase)

English Meaning - comparable with, equivalent to, as equal to, on a level with.

59.cyclone (noun)

English Meaning - hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm; depression.

60.mishap (noun)

English Meaning - disaster, tragedy, affliction, catastrophe.

61.Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) (noun)

English Meaning - Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was established entirely with public contributions and does not get any budgetary support. PMNRF accepts voluntary contributions from Individuals, Organizations, Trusts, Companies and Institutions etc. All contributions towards PMNRF are exempt from Income Tax under section 80(G). The resources of the PMNRF are utilized to render immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc.

62.sanction (verb)

English Meaning - authorize, permit, allow, approve.

63.agony (noun)

English Meaning - pain, suffering, torture.

64.going forward (phrase)

English Meaning - in the future.

65.set up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - form, create, institute, establish.

66.XV Finance Commission (FC-15) (noun)

English Meaning - The Fifteenth Finance Commission was constituted on 27 November 2017 against the backdrop of the abolition of the Planning Commission (as also of the distinction between Plan and non-Plan expenditure) and the introduction of the goods and services tax (GST), which has fundamentally redefined federal fiscal relations. It is constituted to give recommendations for devolution of taxes and other fiscal matters for five fiscal years, commencing 01.04.2020.