A government decision taken on Friday to pay Rs 1 million each to the families of those killed during the Tarai protests has met with criticism, while others have held it in derision, saying the new government seems to be oblivious to the fact that the erstwhile CPN-UML-led government had taken a decision to that effect and even paid compensation to the kin of the victims.

UML leaders were quick to mock at the decision, saying it was mere posturing of the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government.

The decision has not gone down well with some Madhesi intellectuals as well, with Rajesh Ahiraj, a Madhesi journalist, expressing anger at the Madhesi leadership for “resorting to deceits and lies”.

“It was the decision taken by the past government, and most of the families have already received the compensation. This decision is meant to deceive the Madhesi people,” said Ahiraj.

The government on Friday decided that families of those killed during the Tarai protests would be paid Rs 1 million in compensation through concerned District Administration Offices within a week—as part of its initiative to honour a deal it has signed with agitating Madhsei and Janajati parties.

Shakti Basnet, a CPN (Maoist Centre) leader who was home minister in the erstwhile government, confirmed that most of the families of the deceased had already received the compensation. “I don’t remember the exact number, but most of the families of the protesters who were killed during the protests have already received the compensation,” said Basnet.   

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has put a list on its website detailing the payment the families of the victims. According to MoHA officials, around Rs 152 million has been paid to the families of the deceased and protesters injured during the five-month long protests.

While families of 41 people who died during the protests were paid Rs 1 million, three other families were provided Rs 500,000 each. The previous government had also allocated around Rs 3.1 million for the treatment of 19 persons who were injured in the protests.

Laxman Lal Karna, co-chair of Sadbhawana Party, also confirmed that most of the families of the deceased protesters had received the compensation.

“Some injured people who were receiving treatment in India are yet to receive the amount,” said Karna, adding: “Some families of the decease are yet to be identified.”