Adding to the list of welfare measures being deployed to help the kids who have lost their parents due to the pandemic, the Uttar Pradesh government has increased the grants for their guardians, who have dismal incomes. As per the new directives, a monthly monetary aid of ₹4,000 will be provided to the caretakers or guardians of pandemic orphans, in case his/her annual income is less than the stated limit of ₹2 lakh.
Women & Child Welfare Department to identify all such misfortunate kids
Speaking about the latest development, the Chief Minister said, “For the legal or natural guardian, the annual income of Rs two lakh limit is very low, hence should be increased.” If an orphan has a relative to look after him/her, the said guardian will receive monthly aid of ₹4,000 till the child becomes an adult. Alternatively, if there is no one to take care of him/her, the kid will be kept in a child shelter home, as stated by the officials.
The Women and Child Welfare Department has been asked to prepare a comprehensive list of all such children as soon as possible. Further, the authorities have been asked to make sure that no such kid is left out. Informing 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.”
Orphans without relatives to be kept in Rajkiya Bal Grah
The officials informed that there are five Rajkiya Bal Grah(Children’s Shelter Home) across Lucknow, Prayagraj, Agra, Mathura and Lucknow. Now, these centres will be used for keeping orphans who have no one to take care of them. Further, the Chief Minister has initiated ‘Uttar Pradesh Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana’ for providing education and other necessary facilities to them.
It has been stated Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya and Atal residential schools will provide free education to such children. In addition to this, the state officials have been asked to make sure that the education of these kids is not hampered due to monetary reasons. Further, laptops and tablets will be given to such children under the state’s Abhyudaya Yojana. The state government has also planned to provide financial help of ₹1,01,000 for weddings of girls under this project.
–With inputs from IANS
