Pune: Education minister Varsha Gaikwad has submitted a proposal to the chief minister about the state government bearing the cost of education of all school students who have lost their parents to Covid-19.
“The proposal states that the children who have lost both parents to Covid-19 be given Rs 15,000 as a yearly scholarship while those who have lost one parent be given Rs 10,000 as scholarship, from Std I to XII. It is yet to be approved,” Dattatray Jagtap, director of Primary Education, said.
In a recent drive, the state government has identified 82 children orphaned by Covid-19 and another 1,964 children who have lost one parent to the virus.
Many other states have taken up this initiative. Kerala has announced Rs 3 lakh as a one-time funding to such children, Rs 2,000 a month stipend till the age of 18 and promised to bear the cost of their education till they undertake degree-level education.
The Delhi government had announced that the education of such children will be free and they would be given an assistance of Rs2,500 per month till the age of 25.
Gaikwad’s letter to CM
“The government has observed that there have been several incidents of deaths of parents of students studying in Std I to XII due to Covid-19. Such students are already suffering tremendous mental stress. They should not be harmed academically too. Hence, the government needs to support them. Therefore, the school education department has planned to start financial assistance for their education from Std I up to Std XII. A proposal has been submitted as per the discussion held with you on May 27,” the letter said.
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