The Narendra Modi-headed Cabinet on Wednesday approved a scheme to grant greater compensation to civilian victims of cross-border firing, blasts of improvised explosive devices and militant attacks. According to the Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist/ Communal/ Left Wing Extremist, Cross-Border Firing and Mine/IED Blasts on Indian Territory, the compensation, to be given to the victim's next of kin, will be raised to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 3 lakh.

Those who suffered "50% or more disability or incapacitation" because of such incidents will also be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, according to an official release. However, the scheme specifies that the amount will be given only to those who do not have family members employed with the Centre or a state government. Earlier, victims' families were eligible for the assistance even if they were compensated in any other form, such as ex-gratia payments.

The Centre has disbursed as much as Rs 35.89 crore as compensation to civilian victims, since the scheme was launched in 2008. Regions along some 770 km of the the Line of Control and 220 km of the International Border have seen ceasefire violations and infiltration by terrorists since 1990. As many as 13,921 civilians were killed in such incidents till 2015.