WCD counts 105 kids in city, to help them fiscally
THE BENEFICIARIES UP TO 10 YEARS OF AGE WOULD BE GIVEN RS 4,000 PER MONTH, IF HE/SHE IS ENROLLED IN A RECOGNISED SCHOOL
: Around 105 children from the state capital were affected during the ongoing pandemic, the women and child welfare department (WCD) said.
It is helping traumatised souls through the ‘Bal Sewa Yojna’ scheme through which financial assistance is being given to rehabilitate Covid-19affected children. However, the WCD has made the death certificate of parent(s), child’s age certificate and other formalities mandatory to become a beneficiary of the scheme.
Besides, the department has announced giving a tablet/laptop to affected children (enrolled in Class 9 or above, or less than 18 years of age, or pursuing professional courses. It has also announced Rs 1,01,000 for affected girls, which would be given at the time of her marriage. “As of now, we have a list of 105 children in Lucknow who have been affected during the ongoing pandemic. The WCD is offering financial help to such children,” said Jai Pal Verma, officiating district probation officer, Lucknow, who is looking after the rehabilitation of the affected children in the district.
However, Verma said that as a proof of death, either an antigen report, positive RT-PCR report, blood report or a CT scan can be submitted. Even if the patient tested negative and succumbed due to post-Covid complications, the death would be considered due to Covid 19 and the child will be able to get the benefit of the scheme.
While highlighting the requirements for enrolment in the scheme – online, or through child helplines – he said that the beneficiary should be a citizen of UP, the parent(s) of the beneficiary should have died either on March 1, 2020, or after. Besides, the scheme will also help children who lost a parent to Covid-19 and the family income was less than 2 lakh annually. He said that under the scheme, beneficiaries up to 10 years of age would be given Rs 4,000 per month, if he/she is enrolled in a recognised school. In case of a child being orphaned, the child welfare committee will ensure enrolment of the child in Kastoorba Gandhi Awasiya Vidhyalayas, where the child will live and study.
However, NGOs and experts on the subject said that children in the rural pockets are more vulnerable. “There is a need for the department to strengthen the system in remote areas. Despite the fact that there are so many welfare schemes but at many places it is yet to reach the beneficiary. I think there is a dire need to sensitise newly elected pradhans, making them aware that development of the village is not the only work he or she should focus on. There is also a need to spot such vulnerable Covid-19-affected children,” said Rajesh Mani, director Manav Sewa Samity, an NGO working on cross-border child trafficking and on many development issues.