Covid-19 orphans: Here’s the list of states and their relief packages

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a number of welfare measures for children who lost their parents to Covid-19, including ensuring a corpus of Rs 10 lakh when they turn 18 and providing for their education. These schemes will be supported under the “PM-CARES for Children” scheme and ensure free education, health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat till they turn 18.

Following the footsteps of the union government, various states also announced benefits – from monthly stipend to education and covering marriage expenses of girl child – for these children. Here’s a look at it:

Tamil Nadu
According to the state government release, children of persons who died of COVID-19 and are left without support would get Rs 5 lakh each, in the form of deposit in the beneficiary’s name. The amount along with interest will be given to the child upon attaining the age of 18 years. Similarly, Rs 5 lakh will be deposited in the name of children who have already lost their mother or father and now lost the only parent to Covid. Further, the state government will bear all expenses towards their education till graduation.

Karnataka
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has announced the “Chief Minister’s Bala Seva Scheme” for the welfare of children orphaned due to Covid-19, including monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,500 for guardians who are caretakers. He said the scheme has been prepared on a suggestion from the Centre, for the care of orphaned children. Children below 10 years not having guardians will be put under child care institutions. For girls who have completed 21 years of age, Rs 1 lakh will be given for their marriage expenses, higher education and self-employment.

Gujarat
The Gujarat government too announced a host of relief measures including monthly financial assistance for the children who have lost both their parents to Covid-19. Announcing ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana’, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said such children will get Rs 4,000 per month till they turn 18. If they continue studies, they will get assistance of Rs 6,000 per month till they turn 21. This stipend will continue during higher studies too. Orphaned girls will also get the benefit of the state’s Kunwarbai’s Mameru Scheme when they get married.

Bihar
“Boys and girls who have lost their mothers and fathers — with at least one parent succumbing to corona — will get a sum of Rs 1,500 every month from the state government till they attain the age of 18 years,” Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tweeted. He said the aid will be provided under his government’s ‘Baal Sahaayta Yojana’, meant for needy children.

Uttar Pradesh
As part of the scheme, the government will provide a monthly financial assistance of Rs 4,000 to a child’s guardian or caretaker till he or she attains adulthood. Children below 10 years who do not have any family member will be taken care of by the state government children’s homes. Currently, such homes are functional in Mathura, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Agra and Rampur, the state spokesperson said.

A minor girl child will be housed in Kasturba Gandhi Girls (residential) Schools run by the government of India or children’s homes (girls) run by the state government. Currently, there are 13 such children’s homes in the state. Apart from this, they will be taken care of in 18 Atal Residential Schools being set up in the state. The state government will also provide an amount of Rs 1,01,000 for the marriage of such girls.

Tripura
The state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 3,500 per month to those orphan children, who will stay with relatives instead of government shelters, up to the age of 18 years. For those who will stay in government homes, the administration will bear the cost of their living, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said while announcing the ‘Mukhyamantri Balya Seva Parikalpana’ (Chief Ministers Children Service Scheme). If the orphan is a girl, she would receive financial assistance of Rs 50,000 for expenses of her marriage, the chief minister said.

Haryana
The Haryana government will provide financial aid and other assistance for children who have lost their parents to Covid-19 under ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Sewa Yojana’. The state government will give a monthly amount of Rs 2,500 per child as financial aid to the families taking care of these orphaned children. This financial assistance would be given till the child turn 18. Further, an amount of Rs 12,000 annually would also be deposited in the bank accounts of such children as other expenses till they reach 18 years of age and are pursuing education.

The CM also announced that the state government would provide a financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per orphaned child per month to the child care institution for the upbringing of such children living there. At present, 59 childcare institutions are functional in Haryana.

This amount will be deposited in the bank account as a recurring deposit and the maturity amount will be given on attaining the age of 21 years, while all other expenses will be borne by the child care institutions only, the chief minister announced.

Also, an amount of Rs 51,000 will be credited in accounts of all these girls under Mukhya Mantri Vivah Shagun Yojana and at the time of their marriage this amount along with the interest would be given to them.

Assam
The Assam government will provide Rs 3,500 per month to the caretaker or guardian of every child orphaned due to Covid-19, for their education and skill development.

“The state government, for every orphaned child, will be doling out Rs 3,500 each month, of which Rs 2,000 will be borne by the Centre,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Girls who have reached marriageable age will be given a one-time financial package. “The government will provide 10 gm gold under Arundhati scheme, and an amount of Rs 50,000 to each such girl. It will also give a laptop or a tablet to every school- and college-going student, who have lost their parents to Covid-19 or post-Covid complications,” Sarma said.

Goa
The Goa government has announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of Covid-19 victims who were either breadwinners of the family or hailed from poor backgrounds