New Delhi: The Supreme Court — which has tasked the Centre and states with protection of children orphaned by Covid — sought details of the scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard today. The court has also asked the Centre to submit details on identification of beneficiaries, mechanism for monitoring the scheme and other related issues.The court, which took up the issue suo motu while hearing a case about Covid outbreak at childcare homes, will hear the case again on June 7.Several states, including Delhi and Kerala, had already announced schemes for such children.The Central government stepped in on Saturday, announcing that it would bear the cost of these children’s education and hand them a corpus of Rs 10 lakh when they reach the age of 23 years.On Saturday, as his government was about to complete two years in power in its second term — PM Modi had announced the welfare measures for children. The scheme, he said, will be funded by the PM Cares Fund.In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said those between 11-18 years of age will be given admission in any central government-run residential school or their fees will be paid.Also, fixed deposits will be opened in the names of such children and they will receive the money when they turn 23.At least 577 children across the country have been orphaned by COVID-19 between April 1 and May 25, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani has said, citing reports of states and Union Territories.
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