Modi to release PM CARES relief for kids orphaned by Covid
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release benefits under the PM CARES for children scheme, including scholarships, heath cards, and passbooks, on Monday, the Union ministry of women and child development (WCD) said on Sunday.
The central government had launched the initiative on May 29 last year to support children who lost parents, legal guardian, adoptive parents or surviving parent to Covid- 19 from March 11, 2020, to February 28, 2022.
The scheme covers all children 18 years or below who lost both parents, surviving parent, legal guardian or adoptive parent due to Covid-19 pandemic between March 3, 2020, the date on which World Health Organisation (WHO) declared and characterized Covid-19 as a pandemic, and February 28, 2022.
Modi will release the benefits via video conferencing and beneficiary children along with their guardians/caregivers and concerned district magistrate (DMs) of their respective district will join the event virtually, the ministry said.
As per the information, the event will also be attended virtually by ministers, MPs and MLAs of the respective states and union territories.
In a statement, the ministry said that the Prime Minister will transfer scholarships to school-going children.
According to the ministry, as many as 3,806 children below 18 years of age, and 539 children above 18 years of age will be covered under the benefits to be released on Monday.
“The Prime Minister will transfer scholarships to school going children. A passbook of PM CARES for Children, and Health card under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana will be handed over to the children during the programme,” the ministry said in a statement.
The objective of the central government’s scheme is to ensure comprehensive care and protection of children in a sustained manner by providing them boarding and lodging, empowering them through education and scholarships, equipping them for self-sufficient existence with financial support of ₹10 lakh on attaining 23 years of age and ensuring their well-being through health insurance.
The portal “http://pmcaresforchildren.in/” is a single window system that facilitates approval process and all other assistance for children under the scheme