Lok Sabha Question No. 933 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-03
Subject: Portal for Children Orphaned Due to COVID-19
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B, Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.933

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2021

## PORTAL FOR CHILDREN ORPHANED DUE TO COVID-19

933:  SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  a  large  number  of  Indian  children  lost  their  primary  caregivers  to COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  indicating  the  number  of  children  orphaned  and  funds allocated to orphanages during the last two years, State-wise;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the Government created a portal for recording children orphaned by COVID-19;
- (d) if so, the total number of cases shared in the said portal as on date; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  give  care  to  orphaned  children  whose details  were  uploaded  in  the  said  portal  indicating  the  number  of  orphaned children benefited from Government scheme so far, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d) :  The Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced PM CARES for Children scheme to support children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian or adoptive  parents  due  to  COVID-19  pandemic.  The  scheme  is  accessible  through  an online portal i.e. pmcaresforchildren.in . The  applications of such children are uploaded  on  the  portal  by  the  State  /  UT  Governments.   As  on  02.12.2021,  5491 applications  have  been  uploaded  on  the  portal  out  of  which,  3049  applications  have been  approved  by  District  Magistrates  after  due  process  and  483  applications  are pending for approval.

The scheme provides support for education and health and will create a corpus of Rs.10 lakh for each child when he or she reaches 18 years of age.  This corpus will be used to give a monthly financial support/ stipend from 18 years of age, for the next 5 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.  The scheme is accessible through an online portal i.e.  pmcaresforchildren.in.

(e)  :   The  Ministry  is  implementing  a  centrally  sponsored  scheme  namely  Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme under which support is provided to States and UT Governments for delivering services for children in need and difficult circumstances.  The Child Care Institutions (CCIs) established under the CPS scheme support  inter-alia  age-appropriate  education,  access  to  vocational  training,  recreation, health care, counselling etc. and equally covers rural and urban children.  As per the scheme  guidelines,  quantum  of  sponsorship  of  Rs.2000/-  per  child  per  month  is available for Non-institutional Care of children in Need of Care and Protection and the provision for maintenance grant of Rs.2160/- per child per month for children living in

Child Care Institution. The Ministry asked States and UTs to take immediate action for care and protection of children  adversely  impacted  by  COVID  19,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the Juvenile  Justice  (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2015  and  Rules  thereunder, while leveraging the facilities funded under the Child Protection Services scheme.  The Ministry  also  issued  advisories  and  guidelines  for  encouraging  COVID  appropriate behaviour,  monitoring  of  Child  Care  Institutions  and  coping  strategies  during  COVID times  for  mental  health  support  to  children  and  care  givers.   A  responsibility  matrix defining  role  of  primary  duty  holders  at  all  levels  from  State  to  Panchayati  Raj

Institutions was also shared with States/UTs.

*****