Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that we will not let the children orphaned in Covid catastrophe feel that they do not have parents. We will hold every child’s finger. We will take care of the education, food and financial security of all the children orphaned due to the disaster of Corona. Children work hard, make their parents’ dreams come true. I am your mama and the welfare state government is with you at every step. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan virtually distributed pension amount from residence to eligible beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Covid-19 Bal Seva Yojana today. On the inauguration of the scheme, funds of Rs 5 thousand per child per month were transferred in the accounts of 173 children of 130 families with a single click. Principal Secretary Women and Child Development Shri Ashok Shah informed about the scheme. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan interacted virtually with the beneficiary children of the scheme and the guardians of children. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also addressed parents and children. All the Anganwadi workers of the state were associated with the program.

Scheme is for the dignified life of affected children

It is noteworthy that the Mukhyamantri Covid-19 Bal Seva Yojana has been started to provide immediate assistance to the children who have lost the care of their parents due to Corona and for their dignified living. Under this scheme starting from May 21, 2021, financial assistance of Rs. 5000 per month will be provided and arrangements for free ration and education of children would be made.

Most terrible phase of my life

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the state has gone through a terrible tragedy. Such epidemics occur once in hundreds of years. The outbreak of the first wave of corona was small, but in the second wave the number of those getting infected increased unexpectedly and many people left us due to the high lethality of the virus. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that it was the worst period of my life. Even after many attempts to control the situation, we could not save many of our brothers and sisters. The situation became more painful as innocent children lost their parents who looked after them. There is a lot of anguish in homes where there are no longer both parents.

Government and society have to take responsibility of these children

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that such children cannot be left to stumble from one place to other. The government and society will have to take responsibility of these children. Children affected by the outbreak of Covid should not consider themselves alone. All their concerns will be taken care of. The state government has provided financial assistance of Rs 5000 per month for each child, free education and ration to such children and their guardians every month. Society is also coming forward in this direction. The initiative taken in Ratlam is commendable.

Free education will be arranged

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that free education of children will be arranged. If the child studies in a private school in 9th to 12th standard, then a lump sum of ten thousand rupees will be given in a year. Arrangements will also be made for children studying in government-funded colleges. Children who get admission in private engineering college through JEE Main Examination or other similar examination will be provided a fee of up to Rs 1.50 lakh by the government. The entire fee of government and private medical colleges will be borne by the state government on admission through NEET exam. The state government will pay all the fees of the colleges if children gain admission through the Common Law Admission Test or in the examination conducted by the National Law University or after the 12th standard in Delhi University. If a laptop or tablet is required for studies, then it will also be arranged.

Benefit of other schemes will also be given

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the state government will also consider provide help to daughters at the time of their marriage. In addition, the affected children will also be given the benefit of other schemes of the state government.

Children will also get benefit of Corpus Fund Scheme of the Centre

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that today the 7th year of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s government has been completed. Prime Minister Modi is a sensitive Prime Minister. He is our inspiration. There is a provision of Rs 10 lakh corpus fund in the scheme started by him for these children. Children will also get this help. Therefore, children need not worry. They work hard, go ahead and overcome the crisis and achieve their goal. My best wishes and blessings are always with you.

Maintain Corona friendly behavior

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the condition of corona in the state is constantly improving. There were more than 78 thousand tests yesterday, out of which 14 thousand 500 have come positive. More than 5 thousand people have become healthy. The state’s positivity rate has been 1.8 percent and the recovery rate has been 95.5 percent. Not a single case was reported in Dindori, Agar-Malwa and Bhind yesterday. Now gradually the process of unlocking will start in the state. But we have to continue to be careful. The virus is among us right now. Our slight negligence can bring us back into crisis. Therefore, we have to consistently maintain Corona friendly behaviour.

Identify other parentless children

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan directed the district collectors to identify children without parents or guardians for reasons other than Covid. Such children will not be allowed to wander or fall into wrong hands. By making a list of these children, their living, residence and education system should be ensured.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan interacts with children

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan spoke to some children above the age of 18 years related to the scheme. These include Shri Darpan Soni of Bhopal, Shri Jayant Pathariya, Pallavi Soni of Ratlam, Shri Dharmendra Arya of Gwalior, Kumari Kajal Raje, Shri Dhruv Pastore and Kumari Naina Pastore of Niwari. Along with this, he discussed with the guardians of children below 18 years of age including Smt. Geeta Chaurasia, Shri Gore Lal Tripathi of Satna, Shri Ayub Khan, Shri Rajesh Jain and Shri Brajesh Ahirwar of Tikamgarh, Shri Kailash Soni and Shri Devendra Naidu of Jabalpur and Shri Shafiq Rahman and Shri Praveen Barela of Burhanpur.