- Family pensions will be given to dependents of those who have died due to COVID-19.
- Children who have lost their parents to COVID-19 will get a monthly stipend once they turn 18.
- Fund of Rs. 10 lakh will be given to them from the PM-CARES fund after they turn 23.
The central government on May 29 reportedly said that family pensions will be given to dependents of those who have died due to COVID-19. As per the reports by NDTV, the pensions will be under the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
Other than this, the children who have lost their parents to COVID-19 will get a monthly stipend once they turn 18. Also, a fund of Rs. 10 lakh will be given to them from the PM-CARES fund after they turn 23, the PMO reportedly said.
Moreover, it said that the children will be helped to get a loan for higher studies who interest will be paid from the PM-CARES fund.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted about the same. Have a look at the tweet.
“…Dependent family members of such persons (who died of Covid) will be entitled to the benefit of pension equivalent to 90 per cent of average daily wage drawn by the worker as per the existing norms. This benefit will be available retrospectively with effect from 24.03.2020 and for all such cases till 24.03.2022,” the government reportedly said in the statement.
The insurance benefits under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance has also been enhanced. Earlier, the maximum insurance benefit was Rs. 6 lakh. However, now, it has been increased to Rs. 7 lakh.
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The government also said that the provision of minimum insurance benefit of Rs. 2.5 lakh has been resorted. It will apply retrospectively from February 15, 2020 for the next three years.
Efforts have been made to benefit families of contractual workers also. The condition of employment in only one establishment has been liberalised. The benefits are available for families of those also who have made job changes in the last 12 months preceding the death. Ministry of Labour and Employment has issued detailed guidelines for these schemes.
According to NDTV’s sources, many BJP led state governments have introduced their own schemes to benefit the coronavirus-affected children. It includes giving stipend till the age of 18 so that guardians can take care of them. Moreover, the states will take care of the children who have no guardians in the childcare centres.