The Gujarat government today (July 27)  announced that kids who have lost a parent to COVID-19 will get a monthly help of Rs 2,000 under the existing scheme of Mukhya Mantri Bal Seva Yojna. At least 776 children, who lost both parents to the infection, received the first monthly instalment of Rs 4,000 each under the Bal Seva Yojna, earlier this month.

The state government has now decided to extend the benefit of this scheme to children who have lost one of their parents to COVID-19, said Sunaina Tomar, additional chief secretary of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department, in a written communication to district collectors. On August 2, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will launch this scheme for such children, by transferring the first monthly instalment of Rs 2,000 into the bank accounts of each beneficiary child identified by the authorities, Tomar stated in the letter.

Previously, only children who had lost both their parents to the disease were covered under the scheme and were eligible to get a monthly assistance of Rs 4,000 till they turn 21, and if they opt to go for higher studies after the age of 21, they would receive Rs 6,000 per month till they turn 24.

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