Eight children from Meghalaya who lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian or adoptive parents due to Covid-19 pandemic have been given financial support under PM-CARES for Children Scheme.
It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced PM CARES for Children Scheme to support children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian or adoptive parents due to Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme is accessible through an online portal.
In Meghalaya, nine applications were received out of which eight were approved for getting financial support under the scheme.
The applications of such children are uploaded on the portal by the respective State of union territory governments.
As on January 31, 2022, as many as 6624 applications have been uploaded on the portal out of which, 3855 applications have been approved as per due process.
The objective of the scheme is to ensure comprehensive care and protection of children who have lost their parents to Covid pandemic, in a sustained manner, enable their wellbeing through health insurance, empower them through education and equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support on reaching 23 years of age.
The PM CARES for Children Scheme inter alia provides support to these children through convergent approach, gap funding for ensuring education, health, monthly stipend from the age of 18 years, and lump sum amount of Rs 10 lakh on attaining 23 years of age.
The eligible children are enrolled from May 29, 2021 which is the date of announcement by the Prime Minister to December 31, 2021 to avail the benefits of PM CARES for Children Scheme.
The Scheme will continue till the year when every identified beneficiary turns 23 years of age.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development shall be the nodal Ministry for the execution of the scheme at the central level. The department of Women and Child Development or the Department of Social Justice in the State or union territory implementing the Child Protection Services scheme shall be the nodal department for the scheme.
