In a major relief package initiated in Uttar Pradesh,   families of 2,020 government employees who died of Covid during the Panchayat poll duty will receive Rs 30 lakh each in compensation from the state government.  It was said by the Additional Chief Secretary (Panchayati Raj) Manoj Kumar Singh, underscoring that  3,092 applications had been received under revised protocols for determining death on duty from Covid and 2,020 cases were recommended as eligible for compensation. He also said, rhere are an additional 10 to 20 cases which will be forwarded to the state advisory board on Covid. Once they confirm the eligibility, their families will also receive compensation.,"  

Under the earlier definition of 'death on duty', the government had identified 74 government employees who died of Covid and non-Covid reasons. The rules stated that compensation would be given only if the employee died on duty or during travel to and from place of duty, which factored in a day or maximum two, depending on how far the employee travelled. However, various employees' associations protested and claimed that more employees had succumbed to Covid while on duty.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the chief secretary and Panchayati Raj officials to request the Election Commission to amend rules to reflect the impact of the pandemic.

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