CPI(M) MP Brittas questions Covid death figures with CRS report

New Delhi

CPI(M) MP John Brittas wrote to Health Minister JP Nadda on Wednesday, highlighting a significant discrepancy between the official Covid-19 death toll and figures from the recently released Civil Registration System (CRS) data. While the government reports about 3.3 lakh deaths, the CRS and media analyses suggest excess deaths in 2021 alone may have reached nearly 19.7 lakh, a number nearly six times higher.

Brittas expressed concern over this gap and demanded greater accountability and transparency. He also urged the Health Minister to ensure the proper implementation of the Supreme Court’s directive for Rs 50,000 ex-gratia compensation to the families of all Covid-19 victims. Brittas questioned how many of the affected families have actually received this compensation or other benefits under various schemes.

He called for a nationwide audit, easier documentation processes, and a grievance redressal system to ensure that all affected families, particularly those missed due to underreporting or bureaucratic issues, receive their due compensation. Brittas asked Nadda to initiate an urgent audit to confirm how many families have received compensation based on both the official and estimated death tolls.

The Vital Statistics report for 2021, based on CRS data, revealed a rise in registered deaths from 81.2 lakh in 2020 to 102.2 lakh in 2021. Government sources previously stated that India's excess mortality rate for 2020-2021 was 9.3% higher than expected, noting a steady rise in deaths over time, even before the Covid-19 pandemic.