The Rajasthan government on Saturday announced a financial relief package for those children who have lost both their parents to the coronavirus pandemic. This welfare benefit will include a monthly aid of ₹2,500 for each such COVID orphaned child till they turn 18 years. Besides this, the CM has assured free higher secondary education across the state along with a host of amenities proposed under the Mukhyamantri Corona Bal Kalyan Yojana.
Rajasthan govt will facilitate the following allowance & grants
Rajasthan Chief Minister announced assistance of approximately ₹5 lakh on the completion of 18 years for each COVID orphaned child in the state. Educational grants and benefits have also been lined up under the CM’s Corona Bal Kalyan Yojna. In addition to this, the package also includes a ₹1 lakh immediate grant for such children the official statement read.
COVID widows, that is women who have lost their husbands to the pandemic, along with their children are also included in the welfare programme. According to the state’s order statement, an ex-gratia of ₹1 lakh and a pension of ₹1,500 per month will also be provided to such women. Under this package, each child of these widows will be also be provided ₹1000 a month. A grant of ₹2,500 will be further be ensured for the purchase of other academic supplies, such as textbooks and school uniforms.
Special survey to trace COVID orphans & widows
The state government has slated a special survey in all 33 districts to identify the COVID orphans and widows. The NCPCR has asked the officials to gather and upload all information about the traced beneficiaries on the Bal Sawaraj Portal, the Additional Director of Child Rights department informed. She added that entries over 700 COVID orphans across the state have already been uploaded on this portal. As per reports, there are another 3,000 who have lost at least one parent to the COVID infection.
