Maharashtra to adopt Covid-19 orphans, bear all costs till they are 18

The orphaned children will be sent to a children’s home, in case their relatives are unwilling to raise them. Representation pic

The Maharashtra government will adopt children aged 0-18 years who have been orphaned because of the pandemic. The state will bear the cost of raising them till they become self dependent and fix a deposit of Rs 5 lakh each in their name. The fixed deposit, with interest accrued, will be released to them when they turn 21. This is in addition to the Centre's scheme.

The state cabinet approved the scheme at its weekly meeting on Wednesday. The eligible children will be those who have lost both the parents to Covid-19 after March 1, 2020; or lost one parent to the disease and the other to a non-Covid-19 ailment; or those who lost one parent before March 1, 2020, and the surviving parent to Covid-19 later.

According to the Chief Minister's Office, the orphaned kids will be housed in a children's home if relatives aren't willing to raise them. If the relatives wish to support the child, they will get an allowance from the state government. The fixed deposit in the bank account will be held jointly by the child and the Women and Child Welfare district officer.

Also Read: Mumbai: BMC to find details of Covid-19 orphans and help them

The district collector will head a task force for collating the information on Covid-19 orphans and protect them against child labour, trafficking and violation of economic and property-related rights. The task force will ensure that the eligible and needy orphans benefit from the scheme.

The Centre's scheme provides for a monthly stipend once they turn 18 and a fund of Rs 10 lakh when they turn 23 under PM-CARES. The orphans will get free school education, and for higher studies they will get an education loan and interest will be paid via the PM-CARES Fund. The children will also have a health insurance of R5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat till they are 18 years.

Rs 5 Lakh
FD amount by state to be released when a kid turns 21