Deceased NHM doctor from Delhi to get 'Corona Warrior' status

The Delhi government said it will accord 'Corona warrior' status to Dr Javed Ali of the National Health Mission who succumbed to COVID-19. The kin of the deceased doctor will also be given Rs one crore compensation.

New Delhi: The Delhi government will accord the 'Corona Warrior' status to a National Health Mission (NHM) doctor who succumbed to COVID-19, and grant his family Rs 1 crore compensation, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Wednesday.

Dr Javed Ali, 42, had contracted the infection in the line of duty and died on Tuesday, he said. His wife had been appealing to authorities to provide help to the family.

"Dr Javed Ali working as a doctor with Delhi Govt NRHM, had succumbed to Covid. Hon CM @ArvindKejriwal has announced that he will be given Corona Warrior status. Delhi govt will gives 1 cr compensation to the family," Jain tweeted.

Earlier in the day, interacting with reporters, Jain had said, "We know that contractual doctor Javed Ali, who was working with Delhi government's National Health Mission, died yesterday of coronavirus. The Delhi government will provide financial compensation to his family because he was a frontline worker who died during COVID-19 duty".

Dr Amarinder S Malhi, Assistant Professor at AIIMS, who had started the campaign demanding justice for Dr Ali, thanked the government for its move. Howevr, Malhi also requested that Dr Ali's wife be provided a government job.

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Hundreds of healthcare workers in the national capital have contracted COVID-19 till date.

The ex gratia of Rs 1 crore is being given by the Delhi government to all its employees who succumb to coronavirus while discharging their duties as frontline warriors in the fight against the pandemic.

(With inputs from PTI)