SC: Educational Expenses of Rs 25 Cr disbursed for Kids who lost Parents to COVID-19

Swarna Shukla

Published On: October 21, 2021 at 12:30 IST

The Supreme Court agreed for disbursal of over Rs 25 Crores, deposited with the Court, five years ago by the Maharashtra Government in registry towards educational expenses of children who lost their parents due to COVID-19. 

A Bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice B V Nagarathna stated that “It is agreeable to the proposal of the State Government that the amount of Rs 25 crore can be deposited in the Juvenile Justice Fund to provide necessary financial assistance up to the limit of Rs 10,000 per child one time for the educational expenses like school fees, hostel fees, educational materials.”

Sachin Patil, Standing Counsel said that District Task Force will be given the responsibility of distribution of the amount after the probe need-based applications and submitted the report to Commissioner, Women and Child Development, Pune. 

The State Government said with the limited fund of Rs 25 crore per head, the available amount to be used for these children in the new scheme is small, amounting to around Rs 12,000 only.

The Government also opined that considering that the number of such children who may lose either or both parents to COVID-19 is expected to increase in near future; the new plan/scheme should have the provision of recurring expenditure.

The Court noted that the State structured a policy on June 17, 2021, confronting that Rs 5 lakh be placed in fixed deposit for children who lost both their parents due to the pandemic and the money will be payable to them after they attain the age of maturity. 

The Supreme Court further said that before it directs the disbursal of the money to the State of Maharashtra, it wants that a concrete statement should be placed on affidavit about the manner in which the money will be utilised for the benefit of children affected by the death of either or both parents due to the Covid pandemic.

Also Read: Right to Education in India– A Long Road to go

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