New Schemes launched for child welfare

PM CARES schemes for Children

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released benefits under the PM CARES schemes for Children.
• The scheme offers a lumpsum amount of ₹10 lakh when children turn 23 years old as well as a monthly stipend from 18 years to 23 years.
• School-going children will also receive free education, textbooks and uniforms at the nearest government schools. 
• Those in private schools may avail fee reimbursement under norms for the Right to Education Act, 2005.
• Older students can also avail free education at residential schools such as Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalay.
• Students between Class 1 and Class 12 will also receive a scholarship of ₹20,000 per month from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Students can also avail loans for professional courses and higher education for payment of interest.
• Beneficiaries can also avail health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh at public and private hospitals under the Pradhan Mantri-Jan Aarogya Yojana scheme.

 

SHRESHTA

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is set to launch the Scheme for Residential Education For Students in High schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESTHA).

About the Scheme

• SHRESHTA has been conceived to provide access to high quality residential education to the meritorious poor students from Scheduled Caste communities, whose parental annual income is up to Rs. 2.5 Lakh per annum, at free of cost from class 9th to class 12th.
• Under this, each year a specified number of meritorious SC students in States / UTs are selected through a transparent mechanism of a National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA ). 
• Entire cost of school fee and hostel fee including food charges shall be borne by the Government of India. 
• The Students under the Scheme may select any school across the country for their academics.