Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 30 (EMN): A total of 12 out of 14 children from Nagaland, who were identified for the PM CARES fund, received ex-gratia amounting to INR 50,000 from the prime minister on Monday.
The funds were released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a nationwide virtual event and a state-level programme for the same was held in Kohima, at the Conference Hall, Nagaland Civil Secretariat.
Commissioner and Secretary, Sarah R Ritse stated that Nagaland is in the initial stage of implementation of the scheme where it is in the process of identification of the beneficiaries.
It was informed that till date, the state has identified 14 beneficiaries, out of which 12 of them were receiving the ex-gratia from the Prime Minister, while two could not receive on Monday due to want of some documentation.
Prior to the commencement of the event, Sarah R Ritse gave an introduction of the PM CARES for Children scheme. She said it was launched by the prime minister on May 29, 2021 for children.
“It aims to support children who have lost both the parents or legal guardian or adoptive parents or surviving parent to COVID-19 pandemic during the period starting from March 11, 2020.”
She also informed that 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 on reaching 23 years of age.
Ritse informed that the Department of Social Welfare is the nodal department but many departments under many ministries are also stakeholders -- School Education, Higher Education, Skill Development and others were also included in the guideline of the scheme.
These 14 children are from three districts – one from Kohima, eight from Dimapur and five from Peren.
In Kohima, the event was attended by Minister for Planning and coordination, Land Revenue And Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu; Advisor for School and SCERT, K T Sukhalu; Advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Dr. Neikiesalie Kire; Advisor for Election and Technical Education Medo Yhokha; MLA Keneizhakho Nakhro, senior government officials from School Education, Social Welfare, district administration, district child protection unit Kohima and others.
Later, Minister Kronu handed over the kit to a beneficiary in Kohima.
It may be mentioned that the PM CARES covers scholarships to school-going children; passbook of PM CARES for children and health card under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana besides the ex-gratia.
A hangout issued by the nodal department stated that the department issued circulars and advertisements through the newspapers as well as other media channels and created awareness about the PM CARES scheme, while circulars were also issued to all the districts and concerned stakeholders as part of advocacy and awareness through media.
Subsequently, the beneficiaries were identified by the department of Social Welfare-State Adoption Resource Agency, Child Protection Services along with the district magistrate with the assistance of District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and Child Welfare Committee (CWC), wherein children requiring support under the scheme were identified by the DCPU and produced before the CWC.
Thereby, all such children under the scheme were registered on the portal by the DCPU, Child Protection Services and verification was conducted by the agencies.
Meanwhile, a video conference on the PM CARES for Children scheme was also held at Town Hall, ADC Hq. Peren on Monday. Deputy Commissioner of Peren, Sentiwapang Aier handed over the PM CARES kit to children during the programme. ADC Hq. Peren, Keyirangding Hegui in his closing remark expressed gratitude to all the line departments who have coordinated the success of the programme.