New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared various welfare measures for kids who lost their parents to COVID-19. He also announced a corpus of Rs 10 lakh to fund education when these children turn 18.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), fixed deposits would be opened in the names of these children. The government will use the PM-CARES fund for creating the financial corpus via a specially designed scheme.
The PM also said it was society’s responsibility to care for the children who lost their parents due to the pandemic. The “PM-CARES for Children” scheme will support children who have lost both parents, their surviving parent, or their legal guardian/adoptive parents to the deadly virus.
The fund will provide these children monthly financial support from 18 years of age till the next 5 years in order to meet their personal requirements during higher studies.
As and when they turn 23, they will receive the corpus amount as a lump sum for personal and professional use.
Children below 10 years will get admission to the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or a private school as a day scholar. Students aged between 11 and 18 years will be granted admission to any central government residential school like Sainik School or Navodaya Vidyalaya.
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
Students who are ineligible for existing schemes will be awarded an equivalent scholarship from the PM CARES fund.
A total of 577 children have been orphaned by COVID-19 in India, according to Union Minister Smriti Irani.
ALSO READ: Private Schools In UP To Provide Free Education To COVID Orphans