From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : The Assam government has announced the Mukhyamantri Shishu Seva Yojana for the welfare of children who lost their parents in the Covid-19 epidemic. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told a press in Guwahati today that the scheme will be launched to mark the completion of seven years of the Modi government. Sarma said that 3,500 rupees per month will be given to the children who lost their parents. There are many children in the Corona period who have lost their parents. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that his government will provide financial assistance of Rs 3,500 per month to parents or those who take care of orphaned children for better education and skill development due to COVID-19 in the state.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said during a press conference that children who have no family carers will be sent to residential schools or institutions and the government will bear the cost. He said that the state government will provide Rs.3500 per month to every orphaned child, out of which Rs.2,000 will be contributed by the Central Government. The initiative will be taken up under the ‘Mukhyamantri Shishu Seva Yojana’ and will be launched on Sunday. The NDA government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is completing seven years on Sunday. He said that such children who lost their parents due to the epidemic will be given vocational and skill based training to ensure their livelihood. The Chief Minister said that the government will take care of children below the age of ten years who have no one in their families. They will be kept in child care institutions and adequate funds will be provided for their care and education. Orphans/girls will be sent to reputed educational institutions where proper care and safety will be ensured. He said the state government is currently tracking such institutions for these children.
This can include from Goalpara Sainik School, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya to Navodaya School and other private institutions which have hostel facility. On the other hand, Sarma said that a lump sum financial package of Rs 50,000 will be given to eligible girls of marriage age. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on the other hand, said on Sunday that his government aims to vaccinate 30 per cent of the state’s 3.2 crore population by August 15 if vaccines are available. He said only 20,000 to 25,000 doses of vaccine are available for people in the age group of 18-44 years in the state. Visiting Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sarma said that he has interacted with officials of two vaccine producing companies who have promised to supply seven lakh doses in the month of June for the 18-44 age group. “Both the companies have promised to send seven lakh vaccines for this group in June but they have not given any date,” he told reporters here. The Chief Minister said that the pace of immunization of people in this age group will be slow till the first week of next month. “In Assam, we have vaccinated about 35 lakh people so far. We have the capacity to vaccinate one lakh people every day, but we are getting about 50,000 vaccines per day only because of shortage of vaccines. He said the consignment of vaccines is likely to reach Assam between June 5 and 6. “The state aims to immunize 30 per cent of its population by August 15 provided necessary doses are available,” Sarma said.
