Get over tragedy: UP CM Yogi Adityanath to COVID orphans

Lucknow: Encouraging children who lost one or both their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic to get over the incident and move on in life, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that while nobody can fill the void in their lives, the children will find strength in the funds being given to them by the government under the Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana.

"The government's steps being taken for children shows the sensitivity of the government," he said.

Addressing a programme in Gorakhpur where he distributed laptops to 82 beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana, presented prize money to meritorious girl students and distributed sports kits to 20 Mahila Mangal Dals under the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao Yojana, the CM said that COVID-19 caused devastation across the world but India presented the best model of COVID-19 management in the form of free tests, free treatment, free vaccine and free ration.

Under the Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana, Rs 4,000 per month is being given as scholarship to children who lost one or both parents to the pandemic and Rs 2,500 per month to those who lost their parents due to other reasons during the pandemic. Under this scheme, laptops are being given to students of Class 9 and above. After the age of 18 years, the children will get financial assistance from the PM Cares Fund till they reach the age of 23 years.

"Under the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao programme, women, institutions and Mahila Mangal Dals are being encouraged. Playgrounds are being arranged in every village so that girls become physically and mentally healthy," the CM said. He added that free education was being provided to girls while Rs 15,000 was being given to a girl child in instalments under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana from her birth till graduation. "Another Rs 51,000 are given under the Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah scheme when a girl gets married," the CM said.

"Under Operation Kayakalp, arrangements for smart classes, good flooring, toilets, and drinking water have been made in schools. The government is working towards improving the lives of children so that their future is bright," he said.