PM Modi announces 'PM CARES for Children' to support kids who lost their parents to the pandemic

In an attempt to address the futures of children who lost their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the PM CARES for Children programme, under which children orphaned by the coronavirus will receive benefits including a scholarship.

"I know how difficult the situation is for people who have lost their family members during the Covid-19 pandemic. This program is for the children who lost their parents during the pandemic. PM CARES for Children Scheme is an attempt to such children," said the Prime Minister, during a video conference to launch the programme.

Benefits under the scheme include a passbook of PM CARES for Children and a health card under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which will be handed over to children during the announcement.


The government programme aims to support children who have lost both the parents or a legal guardian or adoptive parents or a surviving parent to the COVID-19 pandemic, between March 11, 2020 and February 28, 2022.

An online portal was also launched by the Centre to register the children, the portal is a single window system which facilitates the approval process and all other assistance for children