Kolkata,WB: The BJP-led government in West Bengal has announced a special employment scheme for families who lost a member in political violence in the state.

According to a notification issued on October 30, one eligible dependent member of each affected family may be considered for a Group-D government job. The scheme will cover cases of political violence reported on or after January 1, 2001. The appointments will be made as a one-time special arrangement, separate from the regular recruitment process. The government may also create new posts, if required.

The initiative aims to provide financial support to families that have lost their earning members due to political violence. However, certain eligibility conditions have been laid down.

Families with a monthly income exceeding Rs 50,000 will not be eligible. Applications will also be rejected if any family member is already employed in a government job or pays income tax. Only one dependent member of the victim's family can be considered for appointment.

The eligible applicants may include the deceased person's spouse, son, daughter or transgender child. If the deceased was unmarried, a brother or sister may also apply, provided their parents and all siblings were fully dependent on the deceased.

Applicants must establish that they were entirely dependent on the victim and are in immediate need of financial assistance. They must also be Indian citizens and residents of West Bengal, with the minimum educational qualification of Class 8 pass or equivalent.

The notification states that applicants must have completed 18 years of age as of January 1, 2016, and must not have crossed the prescribed upper age limit for Group-D recruitment on the date of application. However, the screening committee may recommend relaxation in age and educational qualifications, depending on the circumstances of the affected family.

Claims that a death occurred due to political violence will be examined by a district-level screening committee. The verification will be based on documents such as the FIR, charge sheet and relevant court records.

The committee will be headed by the District Magistrate and will include the Superintendent of Police or a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Kolkata, along with a prosecution department representative nominated by the Home and Hill Affairs Department.

Eligible applicants will have to submit their applications to the District Magistrate of the district where the incident took place, along with the death certificate, proof of relationship, FIR, charge sheet, court documents and other required papers.

The district committee is required to take a decision within 90 days of receiving an application and forward its recommendation to the Home and Hill Affairs Department. Applicants dissatisfied with the decision can file an appeal within 30 days before a state-level committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary of the Home Department.

However, the notification makes it clear that eligibility to apply does not guarantee a government job. Appointments will depend on the screening committee's recommendation, availability of vacancies, police verification and medical examination.

The scheme will come into effect from the date of publication of the government notification.