The Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the National Health Mission released an ex-gratia relief of Rs. 10 lakh on August 25 for the kin of a doctor who died due to COVID-19 in Bandipora district last month.

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Medical Officer Shabir Ahmad Malik, a resident of Sumbal, died of COVID-19 in Soura Medical institute Srinagar on July 28 after contracting the virus during official duty in the Gurez area of the north Kashmir district. "It is for the first time since the launch of NHM in J&K that the government has sanctioned social security benefits for employees working under the Mission in the Union Territory," NHM Mission Director Bhupinder Kumar, said.

He said approval of social security benefits for the NHM employees was a long-pending demand, adding that it took herculean efforts at various levels for its approval from the Health Ministry. Kumar said in addition to the ex-gratia, the NHM employees would also be provided with financial aid for medical expenses and disability.

The Health Department Financial Commissioner said it was because of COVID warriors like Malik "we have been able to fight COVID-19 pandemic". "The ex-gratia amount sanctioned under National Health Mission is in addition to the insurance under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers fighting COVID-19 and additional ex-gratia by Union Territory government for COVID Victim Healthcare Workers," he added.