New Delhi: The Delhi Government will sponsor the education of children orphaned due to COVID-19, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has promised free education to the children while addressing a press conference today.
“I know many children who have lost both their parents. I want to tell them that I am still there. Do not consider yourself an orphan. The government will take care of their studies and upbringing,” Mr Kejriwal said.
In the past 24 hours, Delhi has recorded around 8,500 cases as against over 28,000 cases on April 20 and that the positivity rate has come down to 12 per cent as against 36 per cent on April 22. But the fight against the coronavirus has not ended and there is no room for leniency, the Chief Minister said in an online briefing.
Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh governments had previously announced financial support and free education for children whose parents died of COVID-19.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said the state government will offer a pension of Rs 5,000 per month and free education to such children.
“We will provide education free of cost to the children who have lost their parents. They will be provided free ration even if they are not eligible for it,” the Chief Minister said. Mr Chouhan noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely hit many families.
On the same day, the Chhattisgarh government said it will bear the education expenses of the children who have lost parents to COVID-19, under the scheme`Chhattisgarh Mahtari Dular Yojna’.
Under the scheme, a stipend of Rs 500 per month will be paid to such children from Classes 1 to 8 and Rs 1,000 per month from Classes 9 to 12. Children studying in both government and private schools will be entitled to this stipend.
The state government will also fund the education of the children who have lost the breadwinner of the family to COVID-19.
The Jharkhand government had said it is committed to rehabilitating children orphaned by COVID-19 and announced financial assistance to the caretakers.
“The Chief Minister directed all the district administration officials to ensure proper care for the children who lost their parents. Many children who lost their parents in the fight against Covid19 may face exploitation or get trapped into child trafficking,” an official statement said. “
The state government said that in case other members of the family agree to take care of an orphaned child, they will be given monthly sponsorship assistance.