Chief Minister Sishu Seva Scheme Launched for Assam COVID Orphans & Widows

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Chief Minister Sishu Seva Scheme on Thursday when he handed over a cheque of Rs 3,500, a copy of the fixed deposit certificate and a laptop to each of the 11 beneficiaries who lost both of their parents due to the COVID-19.

Chief Minister Sishu Seva Scheme for Assam COVID Orphans & Widows

Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 7,81,200 would be parked in the bank as a fixed deposit in the name of each of the beneficiaries. Monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,500 to be realized from the fixed deposit will be given to each of the beneficiaries till they attain 24 years of age. On completion of 24 years of age, the principal amount parked as a fixed deposit against each beneficiary would be credited to his or her bank account.

Under the scheme, the State government would give Rs 3,500 per month per child, including the Central government's support of Rs 2,000. For the children below 10 years and the adolescent girls with no guardian, the State government will take steps to house them in one of the childcare institutions and provide adequate funding towards their upkeep, including educational expenditure. Orphaned adolescent girls will be given accommodation in suitable and reputed institutions to ensure their sensitive care and proper protection.

Considering the marriage component of the scheme, the State government will extend a one-time financial package as marriage assistance. The Government will give one tola of gold under the Arundhati scheme and an amount of Rs 50,000 to each girl.

In another announcement, the Chief Minister said that the State government would give Rs 2.5 lakh as one-time financial support to each of the women who have lost their husbands due to the COVID-19. All the assistances of the two schemes will come from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Besides this, the COVID-induced widow will also be entitled to the benefits under the Arunodoi scheme along with the monthly widow pension under the Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension Scheme.

Also Read: 51 Die of COVID-19 in Assam on Thursday, 3,756 New Cases Detected