By Waikhom Chitradhani
Imphal ( Manipur), May 30 : Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced Chief Minister Bal Seva Scheme (Chief Minister Gi Angangi Tengbang) for children who become orphans due to COVID-19.
“‘Iam happy to announce the ‘Chief Minister Gi Angangi Tengbang’ scheme where we will be extending various assistance for children who have lost both their parents due to COVID-19”, CM, Biren Singh said .
Chief Minister Bal Seva Scheme (Chief Ministergi Angangi Tengbang) is eligible for Children who have lost both the parents surviving parent or legal guardians or adoptive parent and became orphan due to COVID-19.
The scheme includes payment of financial assistance to guardians or caretakers and assistance to orphan children.
Children in Non-Institutional care (with extended family or guardians) are supported with an amount of Rs 2,000 per child under the existing Scheme for Child Protection. These children will be included in the scheme in case they opt to be with their extended family or grandparents or guardians. State will supplement the amount of Rs. 2,000 with an additional amount of Rs. 1,500. Such children will therefore be assisted with a total of Rs. 3,500 per month, with Rs. 1,700 borne by the State Government.
The amount of Rs. 2,000 is shared between Centre and State by amounts of Rs. 1,800 and Rs. 200 respectively.
There will be protection of property rights for such children as Protection of property rights. There will be exemption of stamp duty for registration of property (land) in the name of the orphans in respect of land property owned by their deceased parents. Land revenue will be exempted for such transferred land till the child attends the age of 21 years.
Children below 10 years who may not have an extended family or a guardian or Child care institutions are supported by the Government of India for which the Government of India provides Rs. 2,160 as maintenance grant per child per month.
In case of those children who do not have an extended family or grandparents or guardian, they will be housed in one of the child care institutions.
The scheme will ensure specific Institutional care and education for Adolescent girls. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) are residential schools run by the Government of India. Girl children are given free of cost education here.
In case of adolescent girls, preference will be given for education in KGBVS to ensure their sensitive care and proper protection under this scheme.
Laptop to school, college going child or child undergoing vocational training would be given . It will be provided as a one-time special assistance to such children, who are studying in Class 11 or above or undergoing a vocational course after completing Class 10.
