New Delhi: A report titled titled 'The Absent State: Comprehensive State Denial of Reparation & Recompense to the Survivors of the 2020 Delhi Pogrom' by Karwan-e-Mohabbat, released on the fifth anniversary (February 23) of the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, highlights serious lapses in compensation for survivors.

The analysis of 146 cases found that compensation recommended by the North East Delhi Riots Compensation Commission (NEDRCC) in 2020 remains unpaid.

The report flags low distribution rates of ex-gratia payments for property damage, blaming systemic failures at the SDM level. It also points out that compensation set for 2020 riot survivors is significantly lower than what courts awarded to survivors of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Even after court approvals, many victims have yet to receive their dues.

Lack of Emergency Aid for Victims

The Karwan-e-Mohabbat report highlights that 86% of victims whose homes were damaged in the 2020 Delhi riots received no emergency financial aid, delaying their recovery.

Disparity in Medical Compensation

It also found that out of 29 injury-related cases filed with the SDM office, only 13 victims were compensated, with private hospital patients often excluded from payouts. Most compensation went to those treated at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, raising concerns over unequal treatment.

Issues with FIRs and Compensation Denials

Additionally, many victims were denied compensation because their FIRs were considered invalid by the SDM office. This was due to the police filing generic, omnibus FIRs instead of individual complaints. Although the Delhi High Court ruled in June 2020 that compensation should not depend on FIRs alone, several victims still faced rejection.

Before the NEDRCC was set up, 146 survivors of the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots had initially approached the SDM office seeking compensation. Later, 117 of them escalated their cases to the NEDRCC, collectively claiming Rs 73.94 lakh in compensation. However, the commission approved only Rs 5.53 lakh, which accounts for a mere 7.49% of the total amount sought.

The report noted that survivors lacked an appeal process, leaving them unable to challenge wrongful denials or errors. Confusion over eligibility, documents, and unclear guidelines also added to the challenges.

Overall, the NEDRCC received 2,795 claims, worth approximately Rs 150 crore, but recommended compensation of only about Rs 21 crore — which also included the government’s own expenses for repairing damaged public property.