Delhi Cabinet gives nod to jobs for kin of ’84 riot victims

In a major step towards delivering long-pending justice and economic rehabilitation to families affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday approved a policy to provide compassionate employment to dependants of the riot victims.

The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who said the new policy marked an important step towards resolving cases of employment assistance that have remained pending for nearly two decades.

“The new policy is a concrete step to expedite long-pending cases of employment assistance that could not be completed due to administrative delays since the 2007 Cabinet decision,” Gupta said. “Our government is determined to ensure that no eligible family faces further delay.”

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the policy aims to address the grievances of families who have been waiting for justice and economic rehabilitation for over 40 years. It provides a structured and time-bound mechanism to ensure eligible families receive government employment under compassionate grounds.

One of the key provisions allows dependants of riot victims who are now above 50 years of age and unable to take up employment to nominate a member of the next generation, such as a son, daughter, daughter-in-law or son-in-law, for the job. The clause, officials said, was introduced to ensure that the benefit genuinely reaches families that have grown elderly over time.

“This provision ensures that the purpose of assistance is effectively fulfilled,” Gupta said. “By extending employment opportunities to the next generation, we aim to not only provide financial support, but also restore the self-respect of these families.”

The government has also included relaxations in age and educational qualifications to ensure broader eligibility and fairness. A transparent system for verification, grievance redressal and departmental allocation has been laid out to make the recruitment process accountable and efficient.

The Chief Minister also added that all provisions will comply with the directions of the Delhi High Court and existing legal frameworks.