Globally; just 1 in 4 children covered by social protection: UN report

Globally; just 1 in 4 children covered by social protection: UN report

Subject : Schemes

Context:

• The 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.
• 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 10 lakh on attaining the age of 23 years.
• 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 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 5 lakh. The coverage of health insurance would be provided till they attain the age of 23 years.
• Under the PM CARES for Children Scheme, the children have been given assistance for self-sustenance, self-belief and motivation.