Health Worker’s Widow Receives Rs 50 Lakh Compensation for COVID-19 Duty
The Rajasthan High Court has granted compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the wife of a deceased health worker who lost his life while serving in COVID-19 duties. The court ruled in favor of the plea made by the widow, stating that the insurance policy’s definition of an accident should have a broader interpretation in the case of health workers who are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for the welfare of others during a pandemic.
The petitioner’s husband, a 36-year-old health worker, suffered a heart attack while working in the ICU, and the court recognized that the stress and strain of such duties likely played a significant role in his untimely death. The High Court emphasized the husband’s ultimate sacrifice in preventing the collapse of the healthcare system and safeguarding the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The petitioner argued that her husband’s death should be considered an accident under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Scheme and qualifies for compensation. The scheme includes two categories of claims: loss of life due to COVID-19 and loss of life due to an accident related to COVID-19 duties. The widow claimed that her husband’s heart attack, occurring during the second wave of the pandemic while working in the ICU, was an accident resulting from his duties.
On the other hand, the State argued that since the deceased health worker died of a heart attack, which was not directly caused by COVID-19, his death did not qualify for compensation under the scheme. The State maintained that the petitioner’s husband was not a COVID-19 patient and did not die from the virus itself.
The High Court, however, acknowledged that the petitioner’s husband was actively involved in treating COVID-19 patients as a Nursing Officer in the ICU at AIIMS, Jodhpur, and came into direct contact with infected individuals. Considering the scheme’s records and FAQs, the court deemed the petitioner eligible for compensation under the scheme due to her husband’s tragic demise while fulfilling his duties.
The court stressed that an insurance policy’s technical definition of an accident should be interpreted more broadly for health workers who courageously work on the frontlines during a pandemic. Consequently, the court directed the respondents to reevaluate the petitioner’s application and release the claimed compensation amount within three months.
This decision by the Rajasthan High Court highlights the recognition and appreciation for the sacrifices made by health workers in combating the COVID-19 crisis. It sets an important precedent for granting compensation to the families of health workers who lose their lives while serving on the frontlines.
