The Prime Minister on May 29, 2021 announced “PM CARES For Children scheme” to support children impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Salient Features of PM CARES For Children scheme
- Monthly stipend: 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.
- Children to get a monthly stipend once they turn 18 and a fund of Rs 10 lakh when they turn 23 from PM CARES. 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.
- On reaching the age of 23 years, he or she will get the corpus amount as one lump-sum for personal and professional use.
- Free education: Free education to be ensured for children who lost their parents to Covid. 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.
- Education loan: The children will be assisted to get an education loan for higher education and PM CARES will pay interest on the loan.
- Free health insurance: The children will get free health insurance of Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat till 18 years and premium will be paid by PM CARES.
