Gujarat grants ₹25 lakh each to families of 115 GSRTC 'Corona Warriors'
Synopsis
Gujarat has done something legally complex and politically notable: it has extended the 'Corona Warrior' tag — and the ₹25 lakh that comes with it — to GSRTC bus drivers and conductors who died of Covid-19 on duty. The designation had to bypass standard corporation-employee rules, making this a rare instance of a state government stretching its own administrative framework to honour public transport workers.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat government distributed ₹25 lakh each to families of 115 GSRTC employees on 22 July .
The deceased workers — drivers, conductors, clerks, and managers — contracted Covid-19 while on duty during the pandemic.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi handed over the cheques at a ceremony in Gandhinagar .
The 'Corona Warrior' designation was extended on humanitarian grounds , bypassing standard legal frameworks for state corporation employees.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was credited with the compassionate decision to approve the assistance.
The Gujarat government on Wednesday, 22 July distributed financial assistance of ₹25 lakh each to the families of 115 Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) employees who contracted Covid-19 while on duty during the pandemic and subsequently died, formally recognising them as 'Corona Warriors'. The cheques were handed over at a ceremony in Gandhinagar, marking one of the state's most significant post-pandemic welfare gestures toward public transport workers.
Who Was Recognised and How
The deceased employees included GSRTC drivers, conductors, clerks, and managers who continued operating bus services through the height of the pandemic. The state government extended the 'Corona Warrior' designation on humanitarian grounds, a classification that had previously applied to health and emergency personnel rather than transport corporation staff. The decision required navigating separate legal and administrative frameworks that govern state corporation employees — distinct from those covering direct government servants.
What Deputy CM Sanghavi Said
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who presided over the distribution programme, said the move went beyond the standard legal and administrative framework. He attributed the decision to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, describing it as a compassionate call taken 'from the heart' rather than one driven solely by rules and regulations.
'Instead of being guided solely by rules and regulations, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took a compassionate decision from the heart. Recognising the invaluable services rendered by these employees at the risk of their own lives, the government, on humanitarian grounds, treated them as Corona Warriors in this special case and approved the financial assistance,' Sanghavi said.
He also acknowledged the limits of monetary relief: 'No financial assistance can replace the loss of a loved one. The State Transport family has always been, and will always remain, a part of the government's family. The government will continue to stand by these more than 115 families and support them in every possible way during difficult times.'
The Sacrifice of GSRTC Workers During Covid-19
During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, when large sections of the population remained indoors, GSRTC employees kept essential transport links operational across Gujarat. Sanghavi noted that these workers — spanning drivers, conductors, clerks, and managers — performed their duties without regard for personal risk or family safety, ensuring citizens could access critical services.
'During the difficult period of the Covid-19 pandemic, when people were confined to their homes, State Transport drivers, conductors, clerks, managers and other employees continued performing their duties for the convenience of citizens without worrying about their own families. The government will always remember their invaluable sacrifice,' he added.
Officials Present at the Ceremony
The programme in Gandhinagar was attended by Minister of State for Transport Pravin Mali, Principal Secretary Hareet Shukla, Transport Commissioner Rajendar Kumar, senior GSRTC officials, and representatives of the Transport Department, alongside family members of the deceased employees. The government indicated it would continue to support the affected families going forward.
Point of View
And the workaround required political will rather than a routine order. What it also signals is that nearly five years after the pandemic peak, pressure from transport worker unions and families has finally produced a concrete outcome. The ₹25 lakh figure, however, raises a question mainstream coverage tends to skip: how many more GSRTC employees may have died of Covid-19 on duty but whose cases remain unrecognised, and what is the verification standard for the 115 who were? The compassion is real; the framework for future claims remains undefined.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Gujarat government recognise GSRTC employees as 'Corona Warriors'?
The Gujarat government recognised 115 deceased GSRTC employees as 'Corona Warriors' on humanitarian grounds because they contracted Covid-19 while continuing to operate public transport services during the pandemic. The designation was extended despite the workers falling outside the standard legal framework that governs direct government employees.
How much financial assistance did each GSRTC family receive?
Each of the 115 families received ₹25 lakh in financial assistance, distributed at a ceremony in Gandhinagar on 22 July. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi handed over the cheques at the event.
Who were the GSRTC employees recognised as Corona Warriors?
The 115 recognised employees included GSRTC drivers, conductors, clerks, and managers who kept bus services running across Gujarat during the Covid-19 pandemic and later died after contracting the virus on duty.
What did Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi say about the decision?
Sanghavi said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took a compassionate decision 'from the heart', going beyond standard rules and regulations. He acknowledged that no financial assistance could replace the loss of a family member but affirmed the government's commitment to supporting the affected families.
Was this assistance legally straightforward to approve?
No. Sanghavi acknowledged that extending the Corona Warrior benefit to GSRTC employees involved 'separate and complex legal and administrative considerations', as state corporation workers are governed by different frameworks than direct government servants. The government approved it on humanitarian grounds as a special case.
