Punjab Govt to provide Rs 1.5K pension to kids orphaned due to Covid

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 20

Beginning July 1, the Punjab Government will provide Rs 1,500 per month as social security pension, along with free education up to graduation for all those children who were orphaned in the Covid pandemic, as well as families that have lost their breadwinner.

Terming it the state’s duty to become the foster parents of the children who have lost both their parents in the unprecedented pandemic, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said his government would ensure free education in government institutions for such children as well as children belonging to families that have lost their breadwinner to Covid.

Take strict action against hospitals

The CM directed the officials concerned to take strict action against private hospitals overcharging Covid patients and said they should also be made to refund the payment received. He asked DCs to track all such complaints. The private hospitals should be asked to display the official rate prominently, he said.

Affected persons would also be eligible for a grant of Rs 51,000 under Ashirwaad Scheme w.e.f. July 1, and would be entitled to free ration and coverage under the Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana. The state government would also assist the affected family members to find a suitable job under Ghar Ghar Rozgaar te Karobaar Mission, said the Chief Minister, chairing a high-level Covid review meeting.

The relief measures will be provided to orphans until they attain the age of 21 years. In the case of families whose breadwinner has died, these would be provided for an initial period of three years, after which their situation will be re-assessed, and where the vulnerability continues to exist, the period may be appropriately increased.

Meanwhile, amid projections of a possible third wave and its impact on children, the Chief Minister ordered the Health Department to go into a mission mode with preparation, which will include specialised training of all doctors by the June-end. Reviewing the Covid situation in the state, he directed the state expert group head Dr KK Talwar to look into all aspects and get training modules prepared for the Health Department.

Expressing concern over the spread of Covid in rural areas, the Chief Minister directed that teams of health and other departments immediately start house-to-house surveillance in every village. The teams should be equipped to give basic medicines without delay, and RAT testing of symptomatic persons must be got done at the earliest, he said. He also directed that some CHCs in each district be prepared as L2 facilities, with oxygen concentrators and doctors with proper treatment protocols.

Captain Amarinder expressed satisfaction at the measures taken by the control room for oxygen and directed the health department to continuously pursue with the Centre the issue of oxygen shortfall, which stands at 700 MT, as well as tankers.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.