Govt fails to release aid to orphan, needy children

JALANDHAR: The Jalandhar administration has not received funds from the state government since October last year under the Sponsorship and Foster Care programme, depriving the orphan and needy children of their monthly aid of ₹2,000.

The programme is sponsored by the Union and state government in a ratio of 75:25.

The Jalandhar administration had launched this scheme in August 2016 and the government sanctioned ₹3 lakh at that time.

Over 180 applicants, who were orphans, children of leprosy patients/HIV positive parent, children of a single mother/ widow and children whose parent/bread earner was in jail, were identified under the scheme.

The district child protection department, however, has been giving the aid to only 16 children in the absence of sufficient funds.

“We got ₹3 lakh from the government and selected 16 applicants, who fulfilled the criteria. Other candidates are in waiting list. When the government will release funds for them, it will also be distributed. However, we are not even receiving funds for the 16 selected candidates,” a district child protection official said, on the condition of anonymity.

The programme has been run under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). District programme officer (DPO) Narinder Singh said the department has not received funds since October last year and the department had written letters to higher authorities regarding the same.

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Children up to the 18 years of age staying in childcare institutions for more than six months are eligible besides children belonging to below poverty line families.

After furnishing birth certificate (verified from school principal) and family income documents, the DCPO sends the list of the children selected for sponsorship to district administration for distribution of funds. ₹2,000 monthly aid is given to a child for three years under the programme.

If further sponsorship is required, a review is conducted by Sponsorship and Foster Care Approval Committee (SFCAC) to ensure that the child is progressing well .

In such circumstances, the candidate continues to get the grant until he/she attains 18 years of age.

OF THE 180 APPLICANTS SELECTED, ONLY 16 WERE OFFERED ASSISTANCE, WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN STOPPED FROM OCTOBER 2017