PM-CARES for Children Scheme
Source : PIB
GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
Why in News ?
Steps taken to support children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19 was announced.
Key Facts
- What is the aim ?
- Children represent the future of the country and the country will do everything possible to support and protect the children so that they develop as strong citizens and have a bright future.
- All children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian/adoptive parents due to Covid 19 will be supported under PM-CARES for Children Scheme.
- The measures being announced have only been possible due to the generous contributions to the PM CARES Fund which will support India’s fight against COVID-19.
What are the schemes under PM-CARES for Children Scheme ?
Fixed Deposit in the name of the child
- PM CARES will contribute through a specially designed scheme to create a corpus of Rs 10 lakh for each child when he or she reaches 18 years of age.
- Will be used to give a monthly financial support/ stipend from 18 years of age for the next five years.
- To take care of his or her personal requirements during the period of higher education and
- On reaching the age of 23 years he or she will get the corpus amount as one lump-sum for personal and professional use.
School Education: For children under 10 years
- The child will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
- If the child is admitted in a private school the fees as per the RTE norms will be given from the PM CARES.
- Also pay for expenditure on uniform, text books and notebooks.
School Education: for children between 11-18 years
- The child will be given admission in any Central Government residential school such as Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya.
- In case the child is to be continued under the care of Guardian/ grandparents/ extended family, then he or she will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
- If the child is admitted in a private school, the fees as per the RTE norms will be given from the PM CARES.
- PM CARES will also pay for expenditure on uniform, text books and notebooks.
Support for Higher Education
- The child will be assisted in obtaining education loan for Professional courses / Higher Education in India as per the existing Education Loan norms.
- The interest on this loan will be paid by the PM CARES.
- For children who are not eligible under the existing scholarship schemes, PM CARES will provide an equivalent scholarship.
Health Insurance
- All children will be enrolled as a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs.
- The premium amount for these children till the age of 18 years will be paid by PM CARES.
PM-CARES
- In order to dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation like COVID-19 pandemic, to provide relief to the affected a public charitable trust under the name of Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) has been set up.
- It is registered as a Public Charitable Trust.
From PM CARES - Constitution of the trust
- Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman
- Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.
- PM have the power to nominate three trustees to the Board of Trustees
- Eminent persons in the field of research, health, science, social work, law, public administration and philanthropy.
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