Executive Summary:
The PM CARES for Children Vatsalya Scheme, launched on May 29, 2021, supports children who lost parents/guardians due to the COVID-19 pandemic between March 11, 2020, and May 5, 2023. The scheme ensures comprehensive care through health insurance, education, and financial support until the age of 23. As of now, ₹358.11 crores has been disbursed, and details are available on the scheme's portal.
Key Points / Main Content:
Eligibility and Objectives:
* Supports children who lost both parents, surviving parent, legal guardian, or adoptive parents due to COVID-19 between March 11, 2020, and May 5, 2023.
* Aims to ensure comprehensive care and protection for children.
* Focuses on well-being through health insurance, education, and financial support.
* Empowers children for self-sufficiency until 23 years of age.
Financial Provisions:
* ₹10 lakh corpus is created for each child by age 18, with pro-rata amounts deposited in a post office account.
* Children receive a monthly stipend between 18 and 23 years by investing the ₹10 lakh corpus in a post office monthly income scheme.
* Each child receives ₹10 lakh at the age of 23 years.
* ₹358.11 crore has been disbursed to beneficiary children's post office accounts to date.
Additional Support:
* Children under 18, staying with relatives, receive ₹4,000 per month under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme.
* Children in child care institutions receive free boarding and lodging.
* Scholarships of ₹20,000 are provided to schoolchildren from Class I to XII.
* Assistance is provided to obtain education loans for professional courses and higher education.
* All children are enrolled in Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB PMJAY) with ₹5 lakh health insurance coverage until age 23.
Accessibility:
* State-wise and district-wise beneficiary details are available at www.pmcaresforchildren.in, which also serves as the scheme's portal.
Impact Analysis:
Beneficiary Children:
* Impact: Receive comprehensive care, financial support, health insurance, and educational assistance until the age of 23.
* Action Required: Utilize the resources and support provided by the scheme for education, health, and financial stability.
Relatives/Guardians:
* Impact: Receive financial assistance for children under their care.
* Action Required: Ensure children receive appropriate care and utilize the provided funds effectively.
Government (Ministry of Women and Child Development):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring the PM CARES for Children scheme and Mission Vatsalya.
* Action Required: Maintain the scheme's portal, ensure timely disbursal of funds, and monitor the well-being of beneficiary children.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
PM CARES for Children: A scheme launched by the Indian government to support children who lost parents or legal guardians due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vatsalya Scheme: A scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development providing support to children, including a monthly stipend for those living with relatives.
Telangana: A state in India specifically mentioned in the context of fund allocation and beneficiaries under the PM CARES for Children scheme.
COVID-19: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which is the reason for the implementation of the PM CARES for Children scheme.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB PMJAY): A national health insurance scheme providing health coverage to eligible beneficiaries, including children under the PM CARES scheme.
SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY: Member of Parliament who raised the question about PMCARES for Children Vatsalya Scheme
SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR: Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development who provided the answer in the Lok Sabha.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 975
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
PM-CARES FOR CHILDREN (VATSALYA) SCHEME
975. SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the funds allocated under the PM-CARES for Children (Vatsalya)
Scheme in the country since its inception, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of the funds allocated to the State of Telangana under the said scheme;
(c) the number of beneficiaries identified and supported under the said scheme, State-
wise and district-wise, including Telangana;
(d) whether the Government has maintained a publicly accessible database/list of
beneficiaries and fund disbursements under the said scheme; and
(e) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (e): The Hon'ble Prime Minister announced PM CARES for Children scheme on
29.05.2021 to support children who lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian
or adoptive parents due to COVID-19 pandemic during 11.03.2020 to 05.05.2023. The
objective of the Scheme is to ensure comprehensive care and protection of Children in a
sustained manner and enable their well being through health insurance, empower them
through education and equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support till 23
years of age. Benefits under the Scheme have been given to 4543 eligible children.
Under the PM CARES for Children scheme, a pro-rata amount is credited in the post office
account of each identified child in such a manner that the corpus for each child becomesRs.10 lakhs at the time of attaining 18 years of age. Children are entitled to receive monthly
stipend between the age of 18 and 23 years, by investing the corpus of Rs.10 lakhs into
Monthly Income Scheme of Post Office. They are entitled to receive the amount of Rs.10
lakh on attaining the age of 23 years. In accordance with above, ₹ 358.11 cr has been
disbursed to the individual post office account of each beneficiary child till date. Children
below the age of 18 years, who are staying with their relatives, receive Rs. 4000/- per month
under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme of this Ministry. The children staying in child care
institutions are provided boarding and lodging facilities on govt. cost.
Further, scholarship of Rs.20,000/- are provided to all school going children of class I to XII.
Children are also assisted in obtaining education loan for Professional courses / Higher
Education in India. All children have been enrolled under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri
- Jan Arogya Yojna (AB PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of Rs.5 lakh. The coverage
of health insurance is provided till they attain the age of 23 years.
The State-wise/District-wise number of beneficiaries including Telangana under PM CARES
for Children scheme is at www.pmcaresforchildren.in. The scheme is accessible through
the same portal.
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