In the wake of increasing number of suicide cases by the debt-ridden farmers, Punjab Government on Thursday announced enhancement of compensation amount to `3 lakh from `2 lakh in cases of suicide committed by farmers or farming labourers, but with a rider. It has also made the post-mortem report mandatory for staking the claim.
Besides, the Government has also announced `2 lakh compensation to the kin of farmers or labourers after their death due to snake bite with a condition of post-mortem report as it has made mandatory to get the relief. `2 lakh will be given
in case of loss of human life, `20,000 for severe injuries and `5,000 for treatment of wounds caused due to snake bites.
Under the effect of article 174 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc), every victim of snake bite (farmer and agriculture laborer) must have to go through a post-mortem if his or her family wants to claim compensation, after death, said official spokesperson of the Punjab Agriculture Department.
He added that this decision has been taken by the Government after receiving a lot of fake claims laid by the people. Quoting that the Government is developing various scheme for the welfare and aiding of the farmers, he said that because of that, the compensation amount of `2 lakh would be given to the family of the victim of agricultural accident.
He said that government provide assistance in case of death in agricultural work and in loss of one body part `40,000, in loss of two body parts `60,000, in loss of four fingers `10,000 per finger will provide to the victim.
He clarified that loss of four fingers is treated as loss of one limb and assistance of `40,000 is given for the disability.