Madhya Pradesh govt announces 'free education and monthly pension for kids orphaned' due to COVID-19

Bhopal, May 14: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced to provide free education and a monthly pension to children who have lost their parents or guardians during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The state government decided to assist children by providing a pension of Rs 5,000 per month.

 

"We cannot leave such families, we are the government of the state and we will support these children" the Madhya Pradesh CM said, and added that such children need not worry, as they are the children of the state, and the state will take care of them.

 

 

"We will give Rs 5,000 per month pension to children who have lost their parents/guardians in this COVID-19 pandemic. We'll also arrange free education for these children and free ration for these families," Madhya Pradesh CM further said.

 

 

The chief minister also said that the state will grant loans to women, who want to work or start a business, on a government guarantee. Moreover, in a statement to the media, Chouhan also said that the state government will also stand as guarantor for those availing interest-free loans to start businesses.

 

Madhya Pradesh CM noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely hit many families. Children have lost their parents, while aged people are left alone as those taking care of them died due to the viral infection.

 

 

Home Minister Narottam Mishra claimed Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to start such a scheme for children and aged people whose kin died in the pandemic. As per the state Health Department, Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday reported 8,970 new cases of COVID-19 and 84 fatalities, taking the tally of infections to 7,00,202 and the death toll to 6,679.