Ashirbad: Scheme for Specially Cared Children

The scheme “Ashirbad: Scheme for Specially Cared Children” has been launched by the Department of Women & Child Development, Government of Odisha. It aims to provide a safety cover and ensure welfare for children who lost both parents or the primary bread earner in their family during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government of Odisha is committed for the welfare of these specially cared children. To provide a safety cover to these children, Govt has taken various initiatives in the past, particularly support under Biju Sishu Surkshya Yojana, Juvenile Justice Fund and Child protection scheme. The present scheme reinforces the commitment of the Govt to bring positive development in their life.
Ashirbad scheme aims for in-situ rehabilitation and continuation of their life in similar family based non-institutional socio-cultural environment, where ever feasible and in the best interest of the child, and to ensure that care givers and other kith and kins are encouraged to provide best of the care to these children.

Categories of Beneficiaries:

• Category 2(A): Children who have lost both parents on or after 1 April 2020.- Category 2(B): Children who have lost a single parent (including cases where the death of the other parent occurred earlier).- Category 2(C): Children who have lost one parent who was the primary bread earner and continue to live with the remaining parent.

1. Children under Kith and Kin Care (Category 2(A) & 2(B)): ₹2,500/- per month till the child attains 18 years of age or till adoption, whichever is earlier. The amount is electronically transferred to the bank account of the caregiver's family towards the maintenance, health, and education of the child.1. Children in Institutional Care (Category 2(A) & 2(B)): ₹1,000/- per month till the child attains 18 years of age or till adoption, whichever is earlier. The amount is deposited as a recurring deposit in the bank account of the child, in addition to free care and protection under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.1. Children Living with Remaining Parent (Category 2(C)): ₹1,500/- per month till the child attains 18 years of age. The amount is transferred electronically to the bank account of the remaining parent or child towards maintenance, health, and education. (The financial support discontinues if the child is surrendered and placed for adoption.)

Additional Benefits:

• Coverage under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (State Health Assurance Scheme).
• Entitlement under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) or the State Food Security Scheme.
• The child will be facilitated to continue his/her study free of cost in the same school where he/she was going before the death of the second parent. In case the child is shifted to another place where the kith and kin are living. The child will be admitted to a similarly placed school as far as possible. If required, the child will be assisted for admission in OAV, KV or any other Govt school within their criteria.
• For higher education, linkage with the Green Passage Scheme of the Department of Higher Education.
• Eligibility for benefits under Biju Shishu Surakshya Yojana, Juvenile Justice Fund, and other Government schemes, if eligible.
• Caregiver families receive priority assistance under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Biju Pakka Ghara Yojana, or other relevant schemes if eligible.
• Protection of the child’s assets and properties is ensured by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in coordination with DCPU, Tahasildar, and Police.
• Personalised attention and regular follow-up by DCPU to ensure proper care and protection.

The beneficiaries must be children requiring special care who have faced difficulties due to the demise, on or after 1st April 2020, of:
A. Both parents;
B. A single parent (including cases where the death of the other parent occurred earlier); or
C. One parent who was the primary breadwinner, where the child continues to live with the surviving parent.

Offline

The eligible child, caregiver family, or remaining parent can apply directly before the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) with the required documents, including death certificates.

Process For Approval:

Step 1: The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) shall identify children through CHILDLINE, Child Protection Committees at GP and block level, Frontline Workers, Civil Society Organisation, etc., and will prepare proper SlR and collect proper supporting documents.
Step 2: The Collector and District Magistrate will ensure that identification of such specially cared children through a special drive is done every year on a regular basis to ensure that no eligible child is left out. A database of such children will be maintained by OSCPS at the State level.
Step 3: The eligible child, his/her caregiver family can directly apply to the DCPU along with death certificates. After SIR and enquiry, the claim will be processed by the DCPO preferably within 30 days of application.
Step 4: The DCPU is designated as the competent authority for issuing the "specially care child certificate" to avail the benefits. An I-card shall also be issued to each such child.
Step 5: The DCPO will, after due enquiry, submit the claim before the Collector and District Magistrate, who will be the sanctioning authority for various assistance under the scheme.
Step 6: Financial assistance will be released by DCPO to the account of the beneficiary/caregiver family/ remaining parent as mentioned above.
Step 7: The CWC and DCPU, in coordination with frontline workers of the Department of Women and Child Development, shall make follow-up visits and record the reports of progress of every child.
Step 8: DCPU shall submit a monthly progress report to OSCPS in the prescribed format.
Step 9: DCPU will coordinate with District-level officials of various departments to ensure that all benefits are extended to such children.
Step 10: Any gap in fund requirements or special requirements for any child will be met from CMRF.

Grievance Redressal

Collector and District Magistrate will be the grievance redressal authority under the Scheme.
In case any child is in extreme difficulty due to death of any of the care giver not covered under eligibility criteria stated above on or after 1st April 2020 and compelling humanitarian ground exists, then Collector and District Magistrate may after due diligence and personal satisfaction provide assistance as the case may be.