F**ked up COVID Response. Now What?
What is the government doing for those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19?
For children who have lost both parents or guardians to COVID-19:
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A fund of ₹10 lakh will be set up for them.
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Monthly payments from this fund will be provided from ages 18-23 and once the child turns 23, they will receive the remainder lump sum.
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Expenditure on uniforms, textbooks, and notebooks will be paid for by the PM-CARES fund.
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Given admission into schools
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Children below 11 years will be given admission to the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
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Children aged 11-18 will be given admission to any Central Government residential school. If the child is cared for by extended family members, admission will be given to the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
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Children pursuing higher education will receive help in obtaining educational loans for professional courses. Interest on the loans will be paid for by the PM CARES fund.
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As an alternative, scholarships equivalent to the tuition fees, or the course fees for undergraduate/ vocational courses as per the government’s norms will be provided to such children under Central or State Government Schemes.
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For children who are not eligible under the existing scholarship schemes, PM CARES will provide an equivalent scholarship.
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All children will be enrolled as a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh.
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The premium amount for these children till the age of 18 years will be paid for by the PM CARES fund.
For those who have lost a working family member:
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Family pension under ESIC for employment related death cases has been extended to those who have died due to COVID-19. Dependent family members will be entitled to pension equivalent to 90% of average daily wage drawn by the worker.
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This scheme will be available retrospectively with effect from 24.03.2020 and for all such cases till 24.03.2022.
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Under EDLI, the amount of maximum insurance benefit has been increased from ₹6 lakh to ₹7 lakh. The provision of minimum insurance benefit of ₹ 2.5 lakh has also been restored and will apply retrospectively from 15th February 2020 for the next three years.
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The condition of continuous employment in only one establishment has been liberalized, with benefits being made available to families of employees who may have changed jobs in the 12 months preceding death.
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