'PM-CARES for Children' scheme to support children orphaned by COVID pandemic

New Delhi: The Union Government on Saturday has decided to support children orphaned by the Covid-19 pandemic through 'PM-CARES for Children' scheme.

As per the government, the scheme will create a corpus of Rs 10 lakh for each child when he or she reaches 18 years of age.

This corpus will be used to give a monthly financial support or stipend from 18 years of age, for the next five years to take care of his or her personal requirements during the period of higher education and on reaching the age of 23 years, he or she will get the corpus amount as one lump-sum for personal and professional use.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a number of benefits to children impacted by the current Covid pandemic.

While emphasising the role of children as future citizens of tomorrow, PM said that the country will do everything possible to support and protect the children so that they develop as strong citizens and have a bright future.

"In such trying times it is our duty, as a society, to care for our children and instil hope for a bright future. All children who have lost both parents or surviving parents or legal guardian/adoptive parents due to Covid 19 will be supported under 'PM-CARES for Children' scheme," Modi said.

Under the scheme, Children below the age of 10 years will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar. If the child is admitted in a private school, the fees as per the RTE norms will be given from the PM CARES. The PM-CARES will also pay for expenditure on uniforms, textbooks and notebooks.

Children between 11-18 years will be given admission in any central government residential school such as Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya.

In case the child is to continue under the care of guardian/ grandparents/ extended family, then he or she will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.

For higher education, the child will be assisted in obtaining education loans for professional courses and higher education in India as per the existing education loan norms and the interest on this loan will be paid by the PM CARES.

As an alternative, scholarship equivalent to the tuition fees or course fees for undergraduate/ vocational courses as per government norms will be provided to such children under Central or state government schemes. For children who are not eligible under the existing scholarship schemes, PM CARES will provide an equivalent scholarship.

Further, all children will be enrolled as a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of Rs five lakhs. The premium amount for these children till the age of 18 years will be paid by PM CARES.