{ SONIA GANDHI }

CONGRESS PRESIDENT

...consider providing free education at the Navodaya Vidyalayas to children who have lost either both parents or an earning

parent to Covid-19

NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide free education in Navodaya Vidyalayas to children orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In her letter, Sonia Gandhi said the nation owes it to children to give them hope and provide them a robust future after their tragedy.

“I am writing to request you to consider providing free education at the Navodaya Vidyalayas to children who have lost either both parents or an earning parent on account of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Congress chief said.

“I feel that as a nation, we owe it to them to give them hope for a robust future after the unimaginable tragedy that has befallen them,” Sonia Gandhi said.

The BJP, however, took a swipe at the Congress chief, saying her idea of looking after kids orphaned during the pandemic is “outdated and copied”.

“Several state governments are already doing it except perhaps those run by the Congress. Instead of writing to the PM, she should have written to Amarinder Singh and Ashok Gehlot,” BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared the letter on Twitter and said it is high time the government of India listened to the suggestion.

“Children are amongst the worst hit by COVID trauma, many having lost their parents to the dreadful situation. Congress president makes an important suggestion to safeguard their future and provide them free education at NVs (Navodaya Vidyalayas). It’s high time GoI listened,” Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

Sonia Gandhi noted that there has been news of young children losing one or both parents to COVID-19.

“These children are left with the trauma of loss and no support towards a stable education or future,” she said in her letter to the prime minister.