New Delhi: Being ‘Santa’ to children who lost their earning parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on his birthday has asked to upwardly revise the provision of providing help to children whose legal guardian’s income was below Rs 2 lakh per year.
“For the legal or natural guardian, the annual income of Rs two lakh limit is very low hence should be increased,” the CM directed the officials at a high-level meeting on Saturday.
He also asked the women and child welfare department to identify such children at the earliest. “No child should be deprived of this welfare scheme. Work should be done with sensitivity in this regard,” said CM Yogi while addressing a high-level meeting on Saturday.
Speaking about the Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana, Manoj Rai, Director of Women and Child Welfare said, “Adequate steps are being taken to identify such children who lost their parents due to COVID-19 pandemic. So far, 300 children have been identified and the work is still in progress.”
For the systematic upbringing and education of children who lost both their parents or legal guardians due to COVID-19, CM Yogi has launched ‘Uttar Pradesh Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana’.
Under this dream project of CM Yogi, monthly financial assistance of Rs 4,000 will be given to a child’s guardian or caretaker till he or she attains adulthood, while those who do not have anyone to look after them will be sent to child protection homes.
Free Education For Children
In support of children orphaned by COVID-19, the CM said that a free education facility will be provided in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya and Atal residential schools.
He also instructed the officials to ensure proper education for orphaned children above 18 years of age. “No child’s education should be interrupted due to financial reasons, ” he said.
Under the Abhyudaya Yojana of the Yogi Government, laptops and tablets will be provided to facilitate higher studies of such children.
The Yogi Government will provide financial assistance of ₹1,01,000 for the marriage of girls under the scheme.
Orphans Between 0-10 Years Will Be Sent To Rajkiya Bal Grah
Orphans aged between 0and 10 years, who do not have any guardian or extended family to take care of them, will be rehabilitated in five Rajkiya Bal Grah (children’s shelter homes) of Uttar Pradesh. These children’s shelter homes are established in Mathura, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Agra, and Rampur.
