Woman threatens suicide over 'Denied' COVID compensation in Madhya Pradesh's Narmadapuram

BHOPAL: A woman reportedly threatened to commit suicide along with her children in front of Narmadapuram district Collector Sonia Meena on Tuesday. The woman, Chhaya Soni, came to the public hearing with a complaint about not receiving the ex-gratia amount for the deaths of her husband, brother-in-law, and elder brother-in-law due to COVID-19. Administrative officials have dismissed her pleas, saying that the deaths of the three men have not been classified as due to COVID-19.
Collector Sonia Meena stated that Chhaya Soni's application for COVID ex-gratia was investigated two and a half years ago and found ineligible due to the absence of certain reports.“She has been informed the same multiple times by senior officers of the district. Still, we will try to write to the government if any relief can be given to her,” the collector told TOI.
However, the woman countered, saying that all three died in the Corona ward, and she believes this was more than sufficient to prove the reasons. She claimed that for one year, only assurances have been given in the name of the ex-gratia amount.
On April 16, 2021, her husband, Brajmohan Soni, was admitted to the Covid ward of Doctor Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hospital in Itarsi after testing positive for corona. He died during treatment there. While taking care of her husband in the hospital, her brother-in-law Jagmohan Soni also contracted COVID-19 and died during treatment in the same ward. Similarly, her elder brother-in-law Ramkishore Soni contracted COVID-19 and died in the Corona ward of the district hospital.
She claims that the doctors did not provide complete documents at the time. Chhaya had applied for Covid ex-gratia, which was rejected after a year. “If the ex-gratia amount is not received in 15 days, I will commit suicide along with the children. I will write the name of the Collectorate in the suicide note," she was quoted as saying by local media.
She says her son was a topper in BSc first year. After the death of three family members, their financial condition deteriorated, and her son's education had to be discontinued. Chhaya has made multiple appeals at the Collector's office and public hearings. She visited the public hearing for the third time in six months on June 18, 2024, after previous visits on February 20 and June 7, 2024.
During the second wave, the state government announced a COVID ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 to families of victims. This required an RTPCR report, rapid antigen test, or CT scan report showing a positive COVID-19 result, and verification from a doctor or proof that COVID-19 was the cause of death.