The Punjab government said that it will provide government jobs to the next of kin of people killed in Mosul, Iraq, in 2014.
In a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in Chandigarh on Tuesday, the Punjab Cabinet gave its approval to provide financial assistance and employment to the aggrieved families on compassionate grounds.
The state government said it will provide employment to one dependent family member of the victims according to their educational qualification and existing government policy.
The state government has already given a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin.
It was also decided to continue the monthly pension of Rs 20,000 being paid to the family members from the chief minister's relief fund till the time the jobs are provided.
One of the victims had no legal heir.
Policy relaxation
Providing compassionate appointment to dependent family members of the 27 deceased does not fall under the purview of state policy. Therefore, relaxation in the policy was required to achieve this purpose.
Keeping in view the hardships faced by the victims’ families, the state cabinet decided to relax the existing 2002 policy.
The bodies of the deceased were exhumed and DNA tests were conducted following which the mortal remains of 27 deceased Indians from Punjab were brought back to Amritsar on April 3.