Chandigarh, May 28 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the benefits and services to children under the PM Cares for Children scheme, launched on May 29, 2021, for the welfare and best interests of the Covid-affected children, on Monday.
An official spokesperson on Saturday said that the May 30 programme will be attended by Ministers, MPs, MLAs, NC PCR/ SC PCR, DCs, JJBs, CWCs, DCPU, CC1 and children above 18 years of age, whereas children below 18 years will watch the programme through web cast/live telecast.
He added that the Women and Child Development Department is the Nodal Department for execution of the scheme, in collaboration with the Departments of Posts, Social Justice & Empowerment, Education, and Health. The Deputy Commissioners are Nodal Authorities at district level, he said.
As per the spokesperson, children have been enrolled under the Ayusman Bharat – PM Jay with a health insurance cover of Rs five lakh per annum per child. Premium will be paid by PM Cares. Health cards have already been distributed by Deputy Commissioners.
Two Children — Payal and Sourabh — have already been given benefit of Rs 10 lakh each in their account. As many as 93 children have already got the financial benefit in their account with total amount Rs 7.17 crore from the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The objective of the scheme was to ensure comprehensive care and protection of children in a sustained manner, and enable their well-being through health insurance, empower them through education and equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support on reaching 23 years of age.
Children, who lost both parents or biological guardian or adoptive parents during the period between March 11, 2020 to February 28, 2022, have been included for the support.
He said the identification of children has been carried out by the Deputy Commissioners with assistance of Police, District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) and members of Civil Society.
After due verification of the cause of death of parents by CWC, details were uploaded on the PM Cares for Children portal, an integrated portal for child registration, validation, fund transfer, benefits available to children under various components of the schemes and grievance redressal, added the spokesperson.
He said the scheme provides financial support, boarding and lodging, assistance for school education and higher education and health insurance. A child dashboard has also been created with provision of login id for children.
Moreover, elaborate grievance redressal mechanism has been made at the district level under the ADC to deal with the grievances. The portal will send alert of pending grievances at district level and if grievance is not redressed within 15 days, that will automatically escalate at the state level.
Even if that is not redressed within 30 days, it will automatically transfer to the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
He said the scheme will provide financial support in the form of an amount credited in the account of the identified children that would become Rs 10 lakh at the time of attainment of 18 years of age, whereas, an amount of Rs 10 lakh has been deposited in the Monthly Income Scheme of post office in the name of children above 18 years.
Besides, children will receive monthly stipend after attaining the age to 18 years till they turn 23. Children will receive Rs 10 lakh on attaining the age of 23 years. An ex-gratia grant of Rs 50,000 per deceased parent has already been provided by SDRF to the children.
He said that children have been rehabilitated by the Deputy Commissioner concerned with the help of CWC within the extended family/ relatives.
In case of absence of relative or not willing child or family, child has been placed in the age & gender appropriate CCI. Care has been taken to put the siblings together. Children staying with relatives are receiving Rs 2000 per month under Vatsalya Scheme, which is now revised Rs 4000 per month. For children in CCI, grant is provided by the Government.
He further said that children’s education is given prime importance and children have been admitted in nearby Kenderiya Vidalya or Private /Government School.
Six seats in Kenderiya Vidalya have been reserved for such children. Uniform, text books and note books are provided to the children. Scholarship at Rs 20,000 per annum is being provided to the school going children of classes 1-12 under the scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Likewise, a scholarship of Rs 50,000 per eligible child/per year is being provided for technical education. Two supernumerary seats in polytechnic have been reserved and UGC has been asked to create two supernumerary seats to accommodate children.
Loan facility is at place for higher/professional education in India. Interest on the loan is being paid by the PM Cares, he added.
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