Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a new scheme called ‘PM CARES Fund'(Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund) for children affected by COVID-19.All parents or legal guardians / foster parents who have lost or survived their parents due to COVID-19 will be supported under the BM-Cars for Children program.
*The child will get Rs 10 lakh when he is 23 years old.
*Children under the age of 10 and children between the ages of 11 and 18 can attend any Central Government schools or private school.
*It has been reported that children can get loans for their higher education, and the interest will be paid under the Prime Minister’s scheme.
*Free health insurance for children up to 18 years of age.
Details of support activities:
i.Fixed Deposit Fund:
A fixed deposit of Rs 10 lakh will be given to each child on reaching the age of 18. This amount:
*This amount will be provided as a monthly financial assistance / grant from the age of 18 for the next five years for his personal needs.
*Once they reach the age of 23, he or she will receive the corpus amount as a lump sum for personal and professional use.
ii. School Education: For children under 10 years of age
*The child can pursue his / her education at the nearby Kendriya Vidyalaya or at a private school.
*Expenditure on school fees, uniforms, textbooks and notebooks will be provided from the PM-CARES fund.
iii. Schooling: For children aged 11-18
*The child will be admitted to any Central Government Residential School such as Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya.
*If the child wants to continue in the care of the Guardian / Grandparents / Extended Family, he or she will be offered a one-day scholarship at a nearby Kendriya Vidyalaya or a private school.
*If the child is admitted to a private school, the fee will be paid from PM CARES as per RTE rules.
*PM CARES will also pay for expenses for uniforms, text books and notebooks.
iv. Higher Education Support:
*The child can pursue higher education for professional courses / higher education using existing education loan terms. Interest will be paid by PM CARES.
*Alternatively, scholarships equivalent to tuition fees / course fees for undergraduate / vocational courses will be provided to such children under federal or state government schemes as per government regulations. For children who do not qualify under existing scholarship schemes, PM CARES will provide equivalent scholarships.
v. Medical insurance
*All children are entitled to a benefit of Rs. 5 lakhs.
*Premium up to the age of 18 will be paid by PM CARES.