The government of Punjab has decided to help students in the states who lost their parents to the Covid-19 pandemic by offering free education to them along with a monthly social security pension of Rs. 1,500 for necessary resources.
CM, Amarinder Singh announced that they will constitute a monitoring committee, to keep a check on the whole initiative. The monitoring committee will be headed by the Minister for Social Security and Women and Child Development, to review progress and relief measures for every single case.
Students who have lost their parents or families who have lost earning members to the pandemic will be offered free education up to graduation level under this new scheme.
The chief minister of Punjab also mentioned that it is the state’s duty to foster children who have lost both their parents due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Free education for these students will be provided in government institutions, he added.
As per the official government statement issued in this regard, relief measures will be provided for the students till the age of 21, i.e. up to graduation level. Before this, school and college education for students will be free.
Apart from free education to students orphaned due to the Covid-19 pandemic, families who have lost their breadwinners will also be provided with Rs. 1500 as a monthly social security pension, to handle their monthly expenses and pay for necessities.
The chief minister also said that it is the state’s duty to foster children who have lost both their parents due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Free education for these students will be provided in government institutions, he added.
Several other state governments have also decided to offer free education and resources to children who have lost their parents or guardians due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These state governments include Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Chhattisgarh.
Schools and colleges across the country are currently shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic and all classes and academic activities are being conducted online. No dates have been issued for the reopening of educational institutes yet.
