The state government of Rajasthan has announced the Chief Ministers Corona Child Welfare Scheme (मुख्यमंत्री कोरोना बाल कल्याण योजना), for children who have lost either parent or both parents due to COVID-19.

School Children

As per the scheme, the state government will provide a one-time immediate assistance of Rs. 1 Lakh. There will be a further allowance of Rs. 2,500 per month for the child till she/he reaches 18 years of age. On the 18th birthday, the government will also provide Rs. 5 Lakh as another one-time payment. Further, the state government will ensure that schooling, hostel provisions is provided free of cost to these children, falling in the above category.

College going Boys and Girls

College going girls who have been orphaned due to COVID-19 will get priority admissions to hostels run under the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. College going boys who have been orphaned due to COVID will be given assistance under the Ambedkar DBT Voucher Scheme. Unemployment allowance under the Chief Minister Yuva Sambal Yojna will be given to destitute youth affected by the COVID pandemic.

Widows

Women who have lost their husbands to COVID will be given a one-time amount of Rs. 1 Lakh. They will be further given a monthly pension of Rs. 1,500. There will be no restriction on age or income status of the widow. Further, Rs. 1,000 per month will be given to such widows for the upkeep of their children and Rs. 2,000 per year per child for schooling expense support.

Artists

This scheme comes in after the Chief Minister announced a one-time COVID assistance of Rs. 5000 for the financially disadvantaged artists of the state. Around 2,000 financially disadvantaged artists will be supported by this one-time allowance. The funds for this will be allocated from the Rs. 15 Crore that have been set aside in the budget.

"In the wake of difficult circumstances arising out of the Covid pandemic, a decision has been taken to provide one-time help of Rs 5,000 to artists in the state who are facing financial problems. Around 2,000 financially weak and needy artists will get relief due to this.” – Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan.