PM Modi Launches PM CARES For Children Who Lost Their Parents To COVID

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, launched PM CARES for children, a programme that attempts to better the future of those children who lost their parents, legal guardians, or adoptive or surviving parents to COVID-19 from March 11, 2020, to February 28, 2022. Under this programme, the orphaned children will receive benefits including a scholarship. 

Through this programme, PM Modi has decided to offer the amount of Rs 4,000 monthly for the basic needs of the children, provide financial support for schooling, a scholarship for higher education, and free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. 

A passbook of PM CARES for children and a health card number under Ayushamn Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was handed over to the beneficiaries of the scheme during a video conference where he announced the introduction of this programme as well. 

During the conference, PM Modi said, “PM CARES fund helped a lot in preparing hospitals, buying ventilators, and setting up oxygen plants during the pandemic. Because of this many lives could be saved. Those who left us untimely, today this fund is being used for their children, for the future of all of you.”

“No effort or support can replace the affection of your parents. In their absence, ‘Maa Bharti’ is with you. India is fulfiling this through PM Cares. This isn’t just a mere effort of one individual, institution or government. In PM Cares, people have added their hard-earned money,” the PM added. 

Children will be provided financial support of Rs 10 lakh when they attain 23 years of age. The support is inclusive of health insurance and scholarships to make the self-sufficient. 

Here is how you can avail benefits under PM CARES for Children:

• You must register yourself/the child who has lost their parents during the pandemic on the portal launched by the government
• Visit https://pmcaresforchildren.in/ and register the ward on the portal
• On approval by the government, the benefits will be transferred to their bank account.

At present, there are about 9042 applicants for the scheme. 4345 applications have been approved by the government. The nodal Ministry for the welfare of Children in India has been entrusted with the responsibility of anchoring the PM CARES for Children scheme. 

The launch of the scheme was a way of the Prime Minister to adopt the children of his country who lost their pillars during the pandemic to COVID-19.