At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Delhi Cabinet approved a policy to provide compassionate employment to the dependents of victims who lost their lives in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Announcing details of the Cabinet decision taken on Wednesday, Gupta said that the new policy marks a concrete step towards expediting long-pending cases of employment assistance that have remained unresolved since the Cabinet’s 2007 decision.
According to the CM, a key feature of the new policy is that dependents of the victims, who are now above 50 years of age and unable to take up employment, will have the option to nominate a member of the next generation, such as a son, daughter, daughter-in-law, or son-in-law, for the job.
This provision ensures that the benefit of employment genuinely reaches the family and that the intended purpose of assistance is effectively fulfilled. The clause has been introduced in recognition of the fact that many eligible dependents have now grown elderly.
The CM said that for the past 18 years, the process could not be completed due to various administrative reasons, and to end this prolonged delay, the government has now introduced a clear, structured, and time-bound policy to ensure that eligible families receive employment assistance promptly.
The CM further stated that necessary relaxations in age and educational qualifications have also been incorporated into the policy, and all the provisions will comply with the directions of the Delhi High Court and the prescribed legal framework.
Additionally, a transparent and well-defined mechanism has been established for verification, grievance redressal, and departmental allocation to ensure that the process of appointments is fair, accountable, and efficient, she added.
Gupta emphasised that this decision reflects her government’s deep empathy for the victim families and its unwavering commitment to their dignity, justice, and economic rehabilitation.
“Our government is determined to ensure that no eligible family faces further delays. By extending employment opportunities to the next generation, we aim not only to provide financial support but also to restore the self-respect of these families,” she said.