As fear over the Nipah virus continues to grip Kerala, the state government on Wednesday announced compensation to the victims.
The government declared a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of all the deceased patients.
In a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday morning, the government also remembered Lini – a nurse at EMS Memorial Cooperative hospital at Perambra in Kozhikode - who developed fever after attending to a Nipah patient.
She passed away on Monday morning.
The government decided to give a government job to Lini's husband Sajeesh, who works in Bahrain. Addressing a press meet in Thiruvananthapuram, State Health Minister KK Shylaja said that Lini's two children will be given Rs 10 lakh each as compensation.
"At this instance, we duly remember nurse Lini, whose demise has caused immense grief. She died after attending to a patient with Nipah virus and we remember her commitment to her duty and sacrificing nature. She had contact with a Nipah patient and that's how she contracted the virus and subsequently died. We have immense gratitude and commitment towards Lini's family," Minister Shylaja said.
While Rs 5 lakh (each) will be put as fixed deposit, in order to cater to the children's future needs, the remaining Rs 5 lakh will be deposited in such a way, that it can be used for the day-to-day requirements.
The Minister added: "After Lini's demise, the responsibility of bringing up their two children lies on her husband Sajeesh. It may be difficult for him to go back to his job abroad, so we have decided to give a job to the young man."
The last letter
In a handwritten note she left for Sajeesh, Lini had written that she wants her husband to take care of their two children.
"I think I am almost on my way; I don't think I'll be able to meet you. Please look after our children. Take them with you to the Gulf; don't be all alone like our father, please," the 31-year-old nurse had written.
Following Lini's death, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Facebook and said that Lini's demise had caused immense grief.
“The loss of Lini, who had sacrificed her life for nursing a patient, is grief for all of us. Lini’s sacrifice is incomparable. It is painful that Lini met with this tragedy while she was sincerely doing her duty. We, the people of the state, share the pain and loss of Lini’s family, friends and colleagues," the CM had written.
According to the figures given by the state government, 10 people have already died in Kerala due to Nipah virus. Another 22 people have been quarantined after doctors suspected they might be inflicted with the Nipah virus.