Parliament Question: PM-CARES Scheme for Children

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2116 ANSWERED ON 31.07.2026 PM-CARES SCHEME FOR CHILDREN

2116. SHRI P V MIDHUN REDDY:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has conducted any assessment regarding implementation of the PM-CARES for Children Scheme in Andhra Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has reviewed access to education, health insurance and financial assistance provided to eligible children under the said Scheme, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government have proposes any long-term monitoring mechanism for rehabilitation and well-being of beneficiaries after attaining adulthood, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the details of the steps being taken to ensure timely identification and support of eligible children under the Scheme? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a) & (b): The central government formulated the PM CARES for Children scheme to support children who lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian or adoptive parents due to COVID-19 pandemic during the period 11.03.2020 upto 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 havebeen given to 351 eligible children in the State of Andhra Pradesh. District-wise details of beneficiaries are at Annexure.

Under this 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 becomes Rs.10 lakhs at the time of his/her 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. 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 free boarding and lodging facilities.

Under the scheme, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education is entrusted with the task of ensuring that all beneficiaries in the schooling age group are enrolled in schools. In

order to facilitate admission of these children, additional seats @ 10 children per Kendriya Vidyalaya subject to maximum of 2 children per class were sanctioned in the Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country and beneficiaries are exempted from payment of fee from Class I to XII.

Provisions are also made for admission in the nearest Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya or Private Schools and beneficiaries are given benefits of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Further, scholarship of Rs.20,000/- is 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 given benefits 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.

Eligible children also avail the benefits of ‘Swanath Scholarship Scheme for Students’ which is being implemented by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to study further in AICTE approved Institutions and courses. Under the scheme, Rs.50,000/- per annum is provided to each student for every year of study (i.e. maximum 4 years for first year admitted Degree students and maximum 3 years for Diploma Students) as lump sum amount towards payment of college fee, purchase of computer, stationery, books, equipment, software etc.(c) & (d): This Ministry regularly holds review meetings with all the Line Ministries viz Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, D/o Higher Education, D/o School Education and Literacy, M/o Health& Family Welfare, D/o Posts etc of the Scheme to ensure its proper implementation.

Additionally, the beneficiaries are monitored through portal of PM CARES for Children which is the nodal point to monitor all the benefits/issues of the beneficiaries like career progression, benefits given, grievances and their redressal etc. Regular communications are made with all the District Magistrates to meet the beneficiaries of the Scheme. It may be mentioned that DMs have been made the guardian of the children under this Scheme. Help Desk has also been set up to keep in touch with these children on a regular basis to monitor the adequate implementation of the benefits. Each child is contacted regularly, through the Help Desk, for checking on their personal, emotional, educational and health related requirements. The Department of Financial Services imparts financial literacy to the eligible beneficiaries who are likely to exit from the scheme on attaining the age of 23 years and this Ministry remains in touch with the stakeholders for proper management of the funds.

*****ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) & (B) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2116 FOR ANSWER ON 31.07.2026 BY SHRI P V MIDHUN REDDY REGARDING PM-CARES SCHEME FOR CHILDREN Details of the Beneficiaries in the State of Andhra Pradesh S. No. District Total Beneficiaries 1 Anantapur 40 2 Chittoor 21 3 East Godavari 45 4 Guntur 24 5 Krishna 28 6 Kurnool 16 7 Prakasam 16 8 Srikakulam 9 9 Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore 24 10 Visakhapatnam 39 11 Vizianagaram 8 12 West Godavari 56 13 Y.S.R. 25 Total 351 *****