The Kerala government has decided to declare as ‘deceased’ the people who went missing in the devastating landslides in Wayanad in 2024 which will help provide compensation to their families.
The decision comes as a huge relief to the kin of people who were reported missing in the disaster.
As per a government order issued on Tuesday (January 14, 2025), local, district and State-level committees will be formed including Revenue department officials to examine the list of missing people.
Panel to prepare list
The local-level committee includes the panchayat secretary, village officer and station house officer of respective police stations. The committee will prepare a list of missing people and submit it to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for scrutiny.
The DDMA will examine the list and forward it to the State-level committee with its suggestions. The State-level committee, comprising Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Principal Secretaries of Revenue and Local Self-Government departments, will examine the list and forward it to the government, the order said.
The government will subsequently issue an order declaring them as dead and providing ex gratia to their close relatives.
The order directs the local-level committee to closely examine the FIRs filed in connection with the missing people in the respective police stations.
The tahsildar or sub-divisional magistrate should conduct a detailed inquiry about the missing person and the findings will be published on the official website and government gazette.
A 30-day period will be given for filing any objections, after which the list of missing people will be published and death certificates issued to their immediate relatives, the order said.