Imphal: On the occasion of completion of seven years of the NDA Government at the Centre, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh Sunday announced Chief Minister’s Bal Seva Scheme (Chief Minister gi Angang-gi Tengbang) for the children orphaned by COVID-19.
The scheme is meant for kids, who have lost both the parents/surviving parent/legal guardians/adoptive parent due to the pandemic.
Under the scheme, the Chief Minister said the Government would provide a maintenance amount of Rs. 3500 per month if any such child wishes to stay in non-institutional care i.e. under the care of an extended family or guardian. In case the child does not have an extended family or grandparents or guardians to live with, the child would be kept in a Child Care Institution, the Chief Minister stated. It may be mentioned that the Government of India is providing Rs. 2160 per child per month to the Child Care Institutions as a maintenance grant for children below 10 years of age and not having an extended family or guardian.
Regarding protection of property rights of such children, the Chief Minister informed that stamp duty would be exempted in the registration of deceased parents’ property (land) in their name. Land revenue would also be exempted for such transferred land till the child attends the age of 21 years, the Chief Minister said.
N. Biren Singh further added that the scheme would also ensure specific institutional care and education for adolescent girls. They would be given preference for admission in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) to ensure sensitive care, proper protection and free education.
The Chief Minister further said that laptops would 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.
Greeting the people on the completion of seven years of NDA Government, N. Biren Singh also appreciated the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their committed hard work towards bringing development in the past seven years and their dedicated efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
