Union Minister Kumaraswamy announces ex-gratia to accident victim

Visakhapatnam: Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy assured that the government will extend every support to the bereaved family members who lost their kin in the tragic accident that took place at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on Monday.

Visiting the incident spot along with Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, Home Minister V Anitha and Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat, among others, the Union Minister appealed to the employees not to panic but stay strong and united in tough situations such as these. Terming the incident that claimed eight lives and injured six others as most unfortunate, the Union Minister assured that the government is with the victims and bereaved family members. “At a time when efforts are on to revive the plant to its full capacity, the accident left us all shocked. My earnest request to trade union leaders is not to spoil the revival efforts of the plant,” the Union Minister requested.

Announcing an ex-gratia for the VSP accident victims, the Union Minister said Rs 25 lakh will be given to each family of the deceased and Rs 10 lakh to families of the injured irrespective of whether the employee’s on a regular pay scale or outsourced. “Along with allowing the bereaved family members in the Ukkunagaram quarters until retirement, financial assistance will be provided for their children’s education as well.

And a permanent job will be provided to each affected family,” he stated.

He said that the family of each worker who lost their lives in the accident will be provided with retirement benefits and the entire medical expenses of the injured will be borne by the plant management.

Assuring that all necessary assistance will be provided for the future security of the victim families, Kumaraswamy said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief over the incident and announced a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Also, a special investigation committee comprising experts from Bokaro Steel Plant has been constituted to ascertain the causes of the accident.”

After meeting the injured victims undergoing treatment in the hospital, the Union Minister reiterated that the Central Government accords top priority to the development of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, the welfare and safety of its employees and will stand by the families of the victims in their hour of grief.