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Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister Veena George has sanctioned Rs 3,19,99,000 to provide financial assistance to children who have lost their parents due to the Kovid epidemic. A fixed deposit of Rs. 3 lakhs and Rs. 2000 per month till the child reaches the age of 18 is allowed. The required amount was allotted for this. In addition, the education expenses of these children up to graduate level will be borne by the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. There are currently 87 children eligible for the benefit. ICDS After conducting home visits by the staff and collecting the details of the children, the District Child Protection Units assess the condition of each child and report to the Child Protection Committee and take necessary steps for the welfare of these children.
In addition, the order sets out the criteria for allocating financial assistance. Children who have lost a mother or father due to Kovid, children whose parents died of Kovid related physical problems within three months after Kovid became negative, children whose father or mother had previously died and whose only parent died due to Kovid, or whose parents have already abandoned and died with a single parent Kovid Assistance will be given to children belonging to the category of children who are in the care of relatives and the parents who are currently in foster care and the children who have died due to Kovid irrespective of the income limit or other criteria of the family.
Families receiving family pensions for government employees are not considered for financial assistance. Parents who are currently caring for a child will not be considered even if they are informed in writing that they do not need financial assistance under this scheme. However, parents can re-join the scheme before the child reaches the age of 18 and receive assistance for the remaining period.
The one-time assistance of Rs. Rs.2000 / – per month for children eligible for government assistance will be credited to the bank account in the name of the child and the current parent till the age of 18 years.
Expenditure on education up to the degree level of these children will be disbursed directly to the educational institutions through the Department of Women and Child Development from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund from time to time on the recommendation of the District Child Protection Officer at the request of the children.
A Scheme Monitoring Committee has been constituted with the Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development as the Chairperson, the Director and Convener of the Department of Women and Child Development, and a representative not less than the Director / Additional Director of the Department of Health. If there is any doubt in the cases reported by the District Child Protection Officer, the said committee will take a final decision.
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