Telangana Government Announces Rs 5 Lakh Ex Gratia for Families of Gulf Migrants
Hyderabad: The Telangana government has unveiled new guidelines to provide ex gratia payments of Rs 5 lakh to the families of migrant workers from the state employed in Gulf nations. This initiative, part of the government’s electoral commitment to support Gulf workers, is encapsulated in Government Order 216, which applies regardless of the cause of death.
Families of migrants who have passed away since December 7, 2023, while working in countries such as Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, will be eligible for this financial assistance.
To claim the ex gratia amount, families must submit several documents, including the deceased’s death certificate, a cancelled passport, proof of employment (such as a work visa or employment contract), and valid bank account details. After the necessary verification by the district collector, the funds will be directly transferred to the family’s bank account.
Organizations representing Gulf workers have urged the Telangana government to extend this support to families of workers in additional countries requiring an Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) document, such as Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Sudan, and others.
Mandha Bheem Reddy, a migrants’ rights activist and convenor of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) NRI cell, has called on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to consider providing ex gratia payments for deceased workers from previous administrations. He highlighted the plight of approximately 3,500 families affected by the deaths of workers in the Gulf and requested the government to allocate Rs 1 lakh each to support these families.
This initiative underscores the Telangana government’s commitment to addressing the welfare of its migrant workforce, reflecting a broader effort to enhance support systems for families impacted by the loss of their loved ones abroad.
