Lok Sabha Question No. 2145 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-29
Subject: PM Cares for Children
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Jaskaur Meena, Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.2145

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2022

## PM CARES FOR CHILDREN

## 2145.  SHRIMATI JASKAUR MEENA: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

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

- (a) the salient features of PM cares for children scheme and the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised under the scheme in Rajasthan and Assam, so far;
- (b) the number of children who received financial assistance under the scheme in Rajasthan and Assam;
- (c) the details of the positive effect of this scheme in the country; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  start  nationwide  initiatives  under  the scheme, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  & (b) : 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  objective  of  the  Scheme  is  to ensure  comprehensive  care  and  protection  of  Children  in  a  sustained  manner,  and enable their well being through health insurance, empower them through education and equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support till 23 years of age. The scheme is accessible through an online portal i.e. pmcaresforchildren.in .

A calculated  amount has been credited in the account of each identified child in such  a  manner  that  the  corpus  for  each  child  becomes  Rs.10  lakhs  at  the  time  of attaining 18 years of age. Children are entitled to receive monthly stipend between the age of  18 and 23 years, by investing the corpus of Rs.10 lakhs into Monthly Income Scheme of Post Office. They will receive the amount of Rs.10 lakh on attaining the age of  23  years.   Children  staying  with  relatives  are  receiving  Rs.4000/-  per  month under Mission Vatsalya Scheme. Under the scheme, provision has been made for admission in  the  nearest  Kendriya  Vidyalaya  Sangathan/Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalaya  or Private  Schools.  Further,  scholarship  of  Rs.20,000/-  are  provided  to  all  school  going children  of  class  1-12.  Children  are  also  assisted  in  obtaining  education  loan  for Professional courses / Higher Education in India for which interest would be borne by

PM CARES Fund. All children have been enrolled under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojna (AB PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of Rs.5 lakh. The coverage of health insurance would be provided til they attain the age of 23 years.

Children  can  also  avail  the  benefits  of  'Swanath  Scholarship  Scheme  for  Students' which  is  being  implemented  by  All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  to study further in AICTE approved Institutions and courses. Under the scheme,  Rs.50,000/- per annum is provided to each student for every year of study (i.e. maximum 4 years for first year admitted Degree students and maximum 3 years for Diploma Students) as lump sum amount towards payment of college fee, purchase of computer, stationery, books, equipment, software etc. These children are also covered under the initiative of AICTE, 'Kaushal Augmentation and Restructuring Mission of AICTE' (KARMA), for all AICTE approved institutions in the country to overcome the dual challenge of scarcity of skilled manpower in jobs and low skill level of those who are presently in jobs. An amount of Rs.16.84 crore and Rs.4.44 crore has been transferred to 206 and 55 eligible  children  in  the  States  of  Rajasthan  and  Assam  respectively  under  the  PM

CARES for Children Scheme.

(c) & (d)  :  Under the PM CARES for Children Scheme, the children have been given assistance for self sustenance, self-belief and motivation. The scheme is implemented nationwide  and  provides  benefits  for  their  comprehensive  care  and  protection  and economic independence.

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