Monthly stipend, Rs 10 lakh fund for children who lost their parents to Covid-19

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For those children who lost both parents (or guardians) due to Covid-19, the Centre will provide a monthly stipend once they reach 18 years of age and a consolidated fund of Rs 10 lakh after they turn 23 years old, government announced on May 29.

“Several children lost their parents due to Covid-19. The Government will care for these children, ensure a life of dignity & opportunity for them. PM-CARES for Children will ensure education & other assistance to children.” PM Narendra Modi tweeted.

Supporting our nation’s future!

Several children lost their parents due to COVID-19. The Government will care for these children, ensure a life of dignity & opportunity for them. PM-CARES for Children will ensure education & other assistance to children. https://t.co/V3LsG3wcus

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 29, 2021

Chairing the meeting to discuss and deliberate on steps which can be taken to support children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19, emphasised that children represent the future of the country and the country will do everything possible to support and protect the children so that they develop as strong citizens and have a bright future.

“In such trying times it is our duty, as a society, to care for our children and instil hope for a bright future. All children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian/adoptive parents due to Covid 19 will be supported under ‘PM-CARES for Children’ scheme,” said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that fixed deposits will be opened in the names of such children, and the PM-CARES fund will contribute through a specially designed scheme to create a corpus of Rs 10 lakh for each of them when he or she reaches 18 years of age.

Various schemes launched under PM CARES for Children include:

— Fixed Deposit in the name of the child:

— School Education: For children under 10 years

— School Education: for children between 11-18 years

— Support for Higher Education

— Health Insurance

Highlighting measures for their education, the PMO said children under 10 years will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.

Those between 11-18 years of age will be given admission in any central government residential school such as Sainik School and Navodaya Vidyalaya. In case the child remains under the care of a guardian or extended family, then he or she will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.

If the child is admitted in a private school, fees as prescribed under the Right to Education Act norms will be given from the PM-CARES fund, and it will also pay for expenditure on uniform, text books and notebooks, the PMO added.