Assam Govt Announces Financial Help for COVID Orphans

Guwahati: The Assam government on Saturday announced financial assistance of Rs 3500 per child per month. This will be given to all those children who lost their parents to COVID.

"We will get support of Govt of India for this up to Rs 2000 per child per month under existing scheme," Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said announcing the launch of 'Chief Minister Sishu Seva Scheme'.

The CM made the announcement on the eve of the completion of 7 years in office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government.

For children below 10 years and adolescent girls without guardian, Assam government will take steps to house such children in one of the child care institutions and provide adequate funding towards their upkeep and educational expenditure.

Orphaned adolescent girls will be given accommodation in suitable and reputed institutions to "ensure their sensitive care & proper protection. One such institution is Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) residential school", the CM said addressing the media in Guwahati.

The state would also offer assistance to girls of marriageable age. A one-time financial package would be offered as marriage assistance. "We will also provide one tola of gold under Arundhati Scheme and an amount of Rs 50,000 to each such girl," the CM said.

Laptops and tablets will be provided to school and college going orphan children or children undergoing vocational training. All such students will also be linked to skill based education and will be provided training.

According to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, as many as 577 children have been orphaned due to COVID between April 1 to May 25, 2021.