The Prime Minister's Children's Welfare Scheme has been extended till February 28, 2022. Previously, the program was only good through December 31, 2021.
The plan is as follows:
The program was created to help and empower children who have been affected by Covid.
Eligibility: The scheme will assist all children who have lost both parents or a surviving parent, legal guardian/adoptive parents as a result of Covid 19.
To be eligible for the plan, children must not have reached the age of 18 at the time of their parents' death.
The scheme's features include:
Fixed Deposit in the child's name: When each child reaches the age of 18, he or she would get a sum of Rs 10 lakh.
For children under the age of ten, admission will be granted as a day scholar to the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or a private school.
Schooling: For children aged 11 to 18, admission would be granted to any Central Government residential school, such as Sainik School or Navodaya Vidyalaya.
Support for Higher Education: As per the existing Education Loan guidelines, the child would be aided in acquiring an education loan for Professional courses / Higher Education in India.
Health Insurance: Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY), all children would be enrolled as beneficiaries with a health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakhs.
(Note: We've simply touched on the scheme's highlights and major elements here.) Please see the website for more information.
These safeguards are required because:
As India fights a blazing second wave, the number of children who have lost their parents to Covid-19 is increasing.
Child trafficking under the guise of adoption has also become a concern.
In the Covid-19-induced lockdown, child marriages have also increased.