NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a social security scheme for families affected by the pandemic on Tuesday.
Called Mukhyamantri Covid-19 Pariwar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana, the scheme aims to support children who have been orphaned and families that have lost their members to the coronavirus. Under the scheme, an ex-gratia amount of Rs 50,000 will be given for deaths, and an additional pension of Rs 2,500 per month if the family has lost its breadwinner.
"This move will offer short-term help to the beneficiaries. However, Delhi government — and the Centre and other states — must realise that the virus has not only taken lives, but also shattered the economy. Many businesses have been shut and thousands lost their jobs. The need of the hour is to find ways and means of increasing employment opportunities. That’s what many need.-TimesView"
At the virtual launch of the scheme on Tuesday, Kejriwal said, “The recent wave of infections in Delhi was very severe and affected almost every family in the city. It was very lethal too and we lost a lot of lives, a lot of children became orphans, a lot of families lost their breadwinners. There’s no one to look after them now.”
The CM said being sensitive to the needs of the families, Delhi government had come up with the financial assistance scheme. In the case of the death of any Covid-positive person, either in an institutional setting or at home, Rs 50,000 would be given as ex-gratia to the family of the deceased. “No questions will be asked. If the person died because of the coronavirus, the family will receive Rs 50,000,” Kejriwal asserted.
He added, “Additionally, a monthly Rs 2,500 will be given to families that have lost their breadwinner. Plus, all children orphaned by Covid will be given Rs 2,500 every month till they attain the age of 25 years.”
Three applications for the ex-gratia amount of Rs 50,000 and five for the monthly Rs 2,500 financial assistance were processed on the first day of the scheme on Tuesday.
The social welfare department will be the nodal and implementing agency for the scheme. “We have tried to cover all kinds of sections of society and parameters. Today, we are launching the portal where applications have to be submitted,” said Kejriwal. “There are two options. First, families can register on the portal themselves. Second, a Delhi government representative can visit their home and help them. We will not wait for people to apply, but also approach them on our own as well.” He added that the government representatives visiting homes will not be scrutinising the documents of the grieving families but assisting them.
The government has made the application simple. The eligible applicants need to register as “New User” on https://edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in/ using Aadhaar and mobile numbers. On successful submission of the form, a government representative will visit the applicant’s home within a week for verification of the information given by the applicant and to assist in collecting any additional information and documents required, if any.
