Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Centre stated to the Supreme Court that Covid is not one time disaster like an earthquake or a flood, for which victims can be compensated with just money.
According to the reports, the government was responding to petitions in the Supreme Court to pay ₹4 lakh compensation to the families of every COVID-19 victim. The Centre stated that unlike disasters of a short and finite duration, occurring and ending quickly, COVID-19 is a global pandemic which has affected all the countries in the world.
The Centre further stated that the pandemic has claimed more than 3.85 lakh lives, a number which is likely to increase further. These deaths have affected families from all classes — the rich and poor, professionals and informal workers, traders and farmers.
The Government said that the pandemic started in the early months of January 2020 and the country is still battling the same with different intensity, different symptoms and different mutations, with no certainty regarding the end.
“The Government further added that if the entire State Disaster Response Funds get consumed on ex gratia compensation for COVID-19 victims, the States may not have sufficient funds for organising COVID-19 response, for provision of various essential medical and other supplies, or to take care of other disasters like cyclones, floods, etc. Already the finances of State governments and the Central government are under severe strain due to the reduction in tax revenues and increase in health expenses on account of the pandemic.
The court said its “broader approach” encompasses a different set of ‘Minimum Standards of Relief’ focused on public health interventions, social protection and economic recovery for the affected communities.
It said funds to the tune of ₹1,113.21 crore was released to States /UTs towards management and containment of COVID-19 over and above the National Health Mission coverage in 2019-2020 financial year. In 2020-21, ₹8,257.89 crore was released to the States/UTs to fight the pandemic.
