PM CARES for Children Scheme

1. It ensures comprehensive care and protection through: 

1. Secure their well-being by providing health insurance. 

1. Educational empowerment to prepare them for a better future. 

1. Help them achieve self-sufficiency through financial assistance. 

1. Key benefits under the scheme include: 

1. Gap funding for education and health care. 

1. Monthly stipend starting at the age of 18. 

1. Lump sum amount of Rs.10 lakh provided at the age of 23. 

Period of PM CARES for Children Scheme

The following are the details about the period of PM CARES for Children scheme: 

1. Enrolment for eligible children: 29 May 2021 (day of announcement) to 31 December 2021. 

1. Scheme was extended till 28 February 2022 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. 

1. The benefit of the scheme can be availed by the beneficiaries when they turn 23 years of age. 

Eligibility Criteria

The applicants can apply for PM CARES for Children scheme if they fulfil the eligibility criteria mentioned below: 

1. All children who have lost: 

1. Both parents, or 

1. Surviving parent or  

1. Legal guardian, adoptive parents, or single adoptive parent due to COVID 19 pandemic, starting from 11 March 2020 the date on which WHO has declared and characterized COVID-19 as pandemic till 31 December 2021, shall be entitled to benefits under this scheme.  

1. Child should not have completed 18 years of age on the date of death of parents 

Benefits of PM CARES for Children Scheme

The benefits or entitlements provided under PM CARES for Children scheme are mentioned below: 

• Boarding and Lodging: 

1. Rehabilitation by Extended Family: 

1. The District Magistrate (DM), with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), will attempt to rehabilitate the child with extended family, relatives, or kin. 

1. Placement in Foster Care: 

1. If the extended family is unavailable, unwilling, or deemed unfit, or the child (aged 4–10 years or above) is unwilling to live with them, placement in foster care will be considered as per the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. 

1. Placement in Child Care Institution (CCI): 

1. If a foster family is unavailable, unwilling, or unfit, or the child is unwilling to live with them, the child (between 4 to 10 years or above) will be placed in an age- and gender-appropriate CCI. 

1. Enrollment in Residential Schools: 

1. As per scheme guidelines, the DM may enroll children over 10 years in residential schools such as Netaji Subhash Chand Bose Awasiya Vidyalaya, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Eklavya Model Schools, Sainik Schools, or Navodaya Vidyalayas, under following circumstances: 

• Not accommodated by extended families, relatives, foster families 
• Children not willing to reside with relatives or extended family
• Children living in childcare institutions

1. Siblings: 

1. Efforts will be made to ensure siblings remain together whenever possible. 

1. Financial Support: 

1. For non-institutional care, financial support will be provided as per Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme rates. 

1. For institutional care, maintenance grants will be provided to CCIs as per CPS rates, along with any additional subsistence support under State schemes.

2. Assistance for Pre-school and School Education:

1. For children below 6 years of age: 

1. Support from Anganwadi services for supplementary nutrition, preschool education/ECCE, immunization, health check-ups, and referrals. 

1. For children below 10 years of age: 

1. Admission in nearby Government or Government-aided schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, or private schools as day scholars shall be provided. 

1. As per the scheme guidelines, two sets of free uniforms and textbooks in Government schools will be provided under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. 

1. Tuition fee exemption in private schools under RTE Act Section 12(1)(c). 

1. PM CARES for Children Scheme covers fees, uniforms, textbooks, and notebooks when other benefits are unavailable. 

1. For children between 11–18 years of age: 

1. Admission in nearby schools or residential schools (e.g., Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sainik Schools) by the District Magistrate (DM). 

1. Alternative accommodation during the vacation will be arranged by the DM in CCIs or other suitable places. 

1. If other benefits are unavailable, fees, uniforms, textbooks, and notebooks will be covered under PM CARES for Children Scheme. 

1. Assistance for higher education: 

1. Support for education loans for professional courses or higher education in India. 

1. If other exemptions are not available, PM CARES Scheme will pay the loan interest. 

1. Scholarships from relevant ministries for eligible beneficiaries will be accessed through the National Scholarship Portal and updated on the PM CARES portal. 

1. Children will receive assistance in obtaining education loans for professional courses or higher education in India. 

1. The interest on the educational loan will be covered by the PM CARES for Children Scheme, if beneficiaries are unable to avail themselves of an interest exemption under existing Central or State Government schemes. 

1. Alternatively, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Department of Higher Education, scholarships will be provided as per norms from schemes. 

1. To access these entitlements, the beneficiaries will be assisted through the National Scholarship Portal, and awarded scholarships will be updated on the PM CARES for Children portal. 

1. Health Insurance: 

1. All children will be enrolled as beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY) and will be provided with a health insurance cover of Rs.5 lakh. 

1. Children identified under the PM CARES for Children scheme will receive benefits under PM-JAY. 

1. Financial Support: 

1. After account opening and validation, a lump sum amount will be transferred directly to the beneficiary's post office account. 

1. An upfront pro-rata amount will be credited to ensure a corpus of Rs.10 lakh by the beneficiary’s 18th birthday. 

1. Beneficiaries will receive a monthly stipend starting at 18 years of age by investing the Rs.10 lakh corpus. 

1. The monthly stipend will continue until beneficiaries reach 23 years of age. 

1. Upon turning 23, beneficiaries will receive a lump sum of Rs.10 lakh. 

How to Apply for PM CARES Children Scheme

Eligible beneficiaries can apply for the PM CARES for Children scheme by visiting the official website (pmcaresforchildren.in). Beneficiaries can reach out to the contact center for PM CARES for Children for any queries regarding application procedure. 

Contact Details

The contact details of PM CARES for Children scheme where beneficiaries can reach out for any queries, information, or issues are mentioned below: 

1. Guideline queries:  

1. Phone number: 011-23381970 

1. Email: cw3division-mwcd@gov.in 

1. Technical queries: 

1. Phone number: 011-23388074 

1. Email: pmcares-children.wcd@nic.in