640 children orphaned in Kovid will get the benefit of Vatsalya Yojana from today. Government financial assistance will be received directly in the accounts through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the scheme on Monday.

While launching the Vatsalya Yojana, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that 2347 children in the state would get the benefit of the scheme. The Chief Minister said that he would act as the maternal uncle of these children. Whereas Departmental Minister Rekha Arya said that she would work as the aunt of the children.

The first and second waves of Corona wreaked havoc in the state. Many children became orphans who have lost one or both of their parents. So far, 2311 such children have been identified by the department, but at present only 27 percent of children will get Vatsalya. The verification work of these children has been completed by the District Magistrates. While the process of verification of other children identified is still going on.

According to Departmental Secretary Hari Chandra Semwal, initially, the process of verification of 640 children has been completed. The accounts of all these children have also been opened. Those who will get financial assistance through DBT. While the verification of other children is being done through the District Magistrates of the respective districts.

The Departmental Secretary said that as the process of verification continues, other children who have been identified will also get the benefit of the scheme. He said that in Uttarakhand while expanding the scope of the scheme, the benefit of the scheme is also being given to the children orphaned on the death of either of the parents or both due to diseases other than covid.

This has also been done because some people died before the test report of Kovid came. In such a situation, to provide relief to the victims, any child who has been orphaned during the Kovid period is being brought under this purview. Apart from this, assistance is also being given to the children who have lost their parents due to the corona epidemic under the PM Cares for Children scheme. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, health insurance of five lakhs is being given to these children till the age of 18 years. Apart from this, at the age of 18, a monthly scholarship and at the age of 23, a fund of 10 lakhs will be given from PM Cares.

Maximum 561 children identified in Dehradun
Dehradun has the highest number of 561 children identified as orphans in Kovid. While 249 children have been identified in Tehri Garhwal, 242 in Udham Singh Nagar, 230 in Haridwar, 213 in Pauri Garhwal, 185 in Nainital, 120 in Uttarkashi. Apart from this, many such children were also identified in other districts. Through DM whose verification process is going on.

Verification of children orphaned in Kovid is being done through the District Magistrate. Initially, the work of verification of 640 children has been completed. In the case of other children, as the process is completed, they will also get Vatsalya.
Hari Chandra Semwal, Secretary Women Empowerment, and Child Development

Chief Minister Vatsalya Yojana has been launched from today. The scheme is an ambitious initiative for the welfare of children affected by the death of a parent, guardian due to covid or other diseases.
– Rekha Arya, Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Development