Kerala announces compensation for demonetization deaths

Making its stand against demonetization very clear, Kerala government on Wednesday announced compensation for the families of those who died while standing in the queue at Banks across the state after the demonetization. Arguably, this is the first time a state is announcing  relief in the country for  the 'casualties' of demonetization.  

The state cabinet convened at Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday decided to provide ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to the kin of those who died while standing in the long queue before banks to exchange demonetized currencies after 8 November 2016.  As per reports, four persons have died in Kerala in demonetization related incidents. Three died while standing in queue while a senior citizen committed suicide after he could not withdraw his deposit in a cooperative bank. 

Earlier, the Left parties, the Congress and the AAP had demanded the central government to apologise to the families of the deceased and compensate them. Shiv Sena also demanded compensation for nearly 100 'demonetization casualties,' across the country. 

Kerala government had expressed his strong reservations on demonetization, and the State Assembly had passed a resolution against it. State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, was among  the first among those who questioned its logic by calling it a mad decision. 

• demonetization deaths
• demonetization
• Kerala
• Narendra Modi