Even as Delhi government on Friday distributed 41 cheques to the next of kin of the blast victims as compensation, several of the injured in the terror attack claimed that the amount was insufficient as they have been maimed for life.
AVM, Parliament Street, K P Suhag said that compensation has already been distributed to 41 relatives of victims including the 13 who died in the blast.
"We have distributed 41 cheques till now and are waiting to deliver more as many victims who have undergone treatment at the Delhi high court dispensary need to be identified and given the cheques," the AVM said.
However, relatives of the patients were unhappy as they felt the amount delivered to them was insufficient in comparison to the nature of the injuries.
Ratan Lal Shroff, whose both legs have been amputated and is in stable condition in the ICU, has been handed over compensation of Rs 2 lakh, they said.
"He is handicapped for life. He has a son to take care of. 2 lakh is a meager amount. We asked the government for a job."
Delhi government announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the blast outside the Delhi high court while those permanently incapacitated would get Rs 2 lakh.
Those seriously injured in the blast will get Rs 1 lakh while in case of death of a minor, the family will get Rs 1.5 lakh. People who received minor injuries in the blast will be given Rs 10,000.
"Seven people have already been delivered a cheque of 4 lakh each and the rest need to be identified. 25 people have been given a cheque of 1 lakh each and only one is left to get it. Three of four people have already been given a cheque worth 4 lakh rupees each and 12 people have been identified for getting a cheque of Rs 10,000 each," he said.
"There may be more to get the compensation as they had undergone treatment at the Delhi High court dispensary and they need to be identified," AVM, Parliament Street K P Suhag said.
Relatives of the injured were called by hospital authorities at midnight for handing over the compensation cheques, Dr Sunil Saxena, chief medical officer RML hospital said.
Another patient Mridul Bakshi, who is still fighting for his life after suffering multiple injuries in legs, chest and abdomen, had been given Rs 1 lakh.
"We were called at about midnight to collect our compensation. Doctors are saying my brother may become permanently disabled. How will this amount help him? He has a six-month-old child to take care of," Vinod Bakshi, brother of Mridul, said.
"We have never evaded paying tax. We are from good families. My nephew has pellets lodged all over his body.
He is not handicapped but we do not know what is in store for him in future due to these 1000 pellets. Even doctors are uncertain. Is 10,000 compensation the right amount," a relative of another vicitm said.
He said later in the morning, an official from the Delhi chief minister's office had come and assured them that this was just the initial amount and everything possible will be done to help the blast vicitims.
Pramod Kumar Mahindra, who suffered serious leg-injuries, has been given Rs 1 lakh while three more patients have been handed over compensation of Rs 10,000 each.
The blast left 13 people dead and nearly 90 injured.