‘PM-Cares for Children’ scheme

On May 29, 2021, the Central Government launched ‘PM-Cares for Children’ for the children facing hardships due to the pandemic situation.Various measures announced under the scheme. This announcement was made by Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under this scheme, the central government will take various welfare measures for the children who have lost their parents/guardian due to COVID-19. The central government will provide a fund of Rs.10 lakh. 10 lakh for each child when he reaches the age of 18 years. Children below the age of 10 years will be admitted to the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or private school and fees will be paid from PM Cares. Children in the age group of 11 to 18 years are provided with residential schools of Central Government like Sainik School Admission will be given in Navodaya Vidyalaya etc and fees will be paid from PM Cares. Students will be provided educational loan for higher education and loan interest will be paid from PM Cares. This scheme is an important step by the central government to take care of the beneficiary children in this difficult time.

Purpose and Benefits:

• The main objective of the scheme is to provide assistance to the children who have lost their parents due to covid.
• Under the scheme, financial assistance for each child when he reaches the age of 18 years through a corpus of Rs.10 lakh.
• Children below the age of 10 years will be admitted to the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or private school and fees will be paid from PM Cares. Central Government residential accommodation for children in the age group of 11 to 18 years
• Admission will be given in schools like Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya etc and fees will be paid from PM Cares.
• Students will be provided educational loan for higher education and loan interest will be paid from PM Cares.
• These children will also be covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme with a health insurance of Rs 5 lakh and the premium amount will be paid from PM Cares till the child attains the age of 18 years.
• The central government will take full responsibility for the welfare of the children who have lost their parents due to the pandemic.
• This scheme is for the betterment and welfare and social security of children in this difficult and unprecedented time across the country.

Scheme Details:

• The Central Government announced the ‘PM-Cares for Children’ scheme across the country for the children who have lost their parents due to COVID.
• The scheme was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29th May, 2021.
• This scheme has been launched for the welfare and social security of children who have lost their parents or become orphans due to COVID.
• Under the scheme, financial assistance for each child when he reaches the age of 18 years through a corpus of Rs.10 lakh.
• This amount will be divided as monthly financial assistance during higher education for 5 years from 18 years to 23 years of age.
• After attaining the age of 23 years he will get lump sum amount as a lump sum for personal and business use.
• Children below the age of 10 years will be admitted as day scholars in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or private school and fees will be paid from PM Cares.
• Children in the age group of 11 to 18 years will be admitted to residential schools of the Central Government like Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya etc. and fees will be paid from PM Cares.
• Expenses on uniforms, textbooks and notebooks will also be paid from PM Cares.
• Students will be provided educational loan for higher education and loan interest will be paid from PM Cares.
• Scholarships equivalent to tuition fees/course fees for undergraduate/professional courses will also be provided to children under Central/State Government schemes as per government norms.
• Children who are not eligible under any existing scholarship scheme will be provided equivalent scholarship under PM CARES.
• These children will also be covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme with a health insurance of Rs 5 lakh and the premium amount will be paid from PM Cares till the child attains the age of 18 years.
• Announcing various measures, the PM said that children represent the future of the country and the country will do everything possible to help and protect children to make them strong citizens and help them in their bright future.
• The PM also said that these measures have been made possible due to the generous contribution made to the PM Cares Fund.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many people including children and thus the Central Government is striving to assist the children in these difficult and unprecedented times thereby ensuring their welfare and social security.
• This scheme is an important step of the government which will prove to be a boon for the affected children across the country.