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PM CARES for Children Scheme

Posted on May 31, 2022 by admin1  782

In News

  • Recently, the PM CARES for Children Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister for the Children. 
    • A passbook of PM CARES for Children and health card under Ayushman Bharat was handed over to the beneficiaries during the launch of the Scheme.

About PM CARES for Children Scheme

  • Aim & Objectives:
    • 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 11th March 2020. 
    • To ensure comprehensive care and protection of Children in a sustained manner.
    • Enable their well being through health insurance.
    • Empower them through education.
    • Equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support.
  • Salient provisions:
    • ‘PM CARES for Children’ passbook: INR 4000 would be given every month to the children once they turn 18 which would help meet their daily needs.
    • Health Insurance: Health cards under Ayushman Bharat will be issued to the beneficiaries so as to insure them against any health emergency. 
      • Free facility of health treatment up to ?5 lakhs will be available to the children till 18 years and premium would be paid by PM CARES.
    • Education/Subsistence loans: PM-CARES would give loans for professional courses in higher education.
      • The scheme entails financial support of ?10 lakh on attaining 23 years of age for education, scholarships and equipping them for self-sufficient existence.
    • Online Portal: Named ‘pmcaresforchildren.in’ has been launched to register the beneficiaries. 
      • It is a single window system which facilitates approval process and all other assistance for children.
  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Welfare has been entrusted with the responsibility of anchoring the PM CARES for Children scheme.
    • Other stakeholders: Other concerned ministries, State governments and District Administration.

Way Forward

  • Children have been severely impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic. Their perils range from loss of routine life, inability to go to School and many have lost both parents to COVID 19.
  • The scheme can ensure rehabilitation of these children through the holistic and convergent approach it has with respect to ensuring education through monetary support, monthly stipend and health insurance. 

Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund)

  • About
    • It is a dedicated fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation and to provide relief to the affected.
    • Established in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is a public charitable trust registered under the Registration Act, 1908.
  • Objectives
    • To undertake and support relief or assistance of any kind relating to a public health emergency or any other kind of emergency, calamity or distress, either man-made or natural, including the creation or upgradation of healthcare or pharmaceutical facilities, other necessary infrastructure, funding relevant research or any other type of support.
    • To render financial assistance, provide grants of payments of money or take such other steps as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Trustees to the affected population.
    • To undertake any other activity, which is not inconsistent with the above objects.
  • Constitution 
    • Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the PM CARES Fund
    • Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance, Government of India are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.
    • Other trustees: Prime Minister shall have the power to nominate three trustees who shall be eminent persons in the field of research, health, science, social work, law, public administration and philanthropy.
  • Salient Features
    • No budgetary support: The fund consists entirely of voluntary contributions from individuals/organizations and does not get any budgetary support. 
    • IT exemption: Donations to PM CARES Fund qualify for 80G benefits for 100% exemption under the Income Tax Act, 1961. 
    • CSR expenditure: Donations to PM CARES Fund also qualify to be counted as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure under the Companies Act, 2013
    • PM CARES Fund is exempted under the FCRA contingent to a separate account for receiving foreign donations.

 

Source: PIB

 
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