The Odisha Congress on Sunday demanded compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families that have lost at least a member to Covid-19.
In Odisha also, the actual number of deaths has not been reported and hence, the State government should carry out a survey for the same to accordingly provide the compensation amount, urged Pattnaik.
Though the Centre announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 after Supreme Court rapped it for failing to help the families of the victims, it's not enough, he said.
"Our leader Rahul Gandhi has initiated a campaign to force the Modi government to pay a compensation of at least Rs 4 lakh each to families of Covid victims. We also urge the State government to put this demand before the Centre," said the senior Congress leader.
Recently, the AICC launched a "Covid justice campaign" with its chief Rahul Gandhi sharing a video of the affected families on Twitter and demanding a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for every household that has lost at least a member to Covid-19.
A day after the launch, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh had said that a commission to ascertain the actual number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the country should be set up soon.
He also demanded the establishment of a COVID-19 compensation fund with a promise to pay Rs 4 lakh each to the victims' families.