UP govt to take all responsibilities of Covid orphans: CM

Concerned about the children orphaned due to COVID-19, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to make proper arrangements for the upbringing and better education of these unfortunate kids who lost either both their parents or the earning-parent to the novel coronavirus.

“No child should be deprived of education. My government and I will take all the responsibilities of orphan children and make their dreams come true,” the chief minister said while addressing a high-level meeting on Tuesday. “Work should be done with sensitivity in this regard. The state government will provide all the opportunities for development to the orphaned children,” he said.

Orphaned children below 18 years of age will be provided all the necessary resources required for their studies.

Earlier, the chief minister had launched the Uttar Pradesh Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana for the systematic upbringing and education of children who lost both their parents or legal guardians to COVID-19. Under this dream project, monthly financial assistance of Rs 4,000 will be given to a child’s guardian or caretaker till he or she attains adulthood, while those who do not have anyone to look after them will be sent to child protection homes.

The chief minister said such children who had been adopted by some families should also be taken care of and it should be ensured that better arrangements were made for the proper upbringing and education of the adopted child. He said the parents should be contacted at regular intervals.