Karnataka moved down to third spot among states in the total number of Covid-19 deaths, thanks largely to Kerala recognising appeals raised by family members of deceased patients. After the new rule was introduced, fatalities in Kerala zoomed to 41,600.
However, unlike Kerala, Karnataka does not demarcate the number of cases added to the tally through appeals from families, although it has kickstarted a reconciliation process. Karnataka had ordered district administrations to form special committees to receive applications from the public detailing deaths in the family. But there is no clarity on the number of deaths that have been added to the tally since the process began.
To claim the governments ex gratia of Rs 50,000 per death, bereaved family members have to prove that the cause was due to Covid-19. Authorities admit some cases, which were earlier not categorized as Covid deaths or not included in the state Covid bulletin, did come to Light.