Sarkari Yojana
Ashirbad: Scheme for Specially Cared Children
About Ashirbad: Scheme for Specially Cared Children
The Department of Women & Child Development, Government of Odisha, has rolled out “Ashirbad: Scheme for Specially Cared Children” to give protection and welfare to children who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, lost both parents or the family’s main earner. The Government of Odisha remains dedicated to the wellbeing of these specially cared children. Earlier, it had taken several steps to shield them, notably support through the Biju Sishu Surkshya Yojana, Juvenile Justice Fund and Child protection scheme. This scheme strengthens that commitment to bring about positive change in their lives. Wherever possible and in the child’s best interest, Ashirbad seeks in-situ rehabilitation so the child can continue living in a comparable family-based, non-institutional socio-cultural setting, while motivating caregivers and relatives to offer these children the finest care.
Scheme Overview
State Government
Individual
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Ashirbad: Scheme for Specially Cared Children, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
Beneficiaries are children needing special care who have been left in hardship by the death, on or after 1st April 2020, of:
Both of their parents;
Both of their parents;
A single parent (covering cases where the other…
A single parent (covering cases where the other parent had died before); or
The parent who was the main breadwinner, where…
The parent who was the main breadwinner, where the child still lives with the surviving parent.
Benefits Provided
Ashirbad: Scheme for Specially Cared Children provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
Categories of Beneficiaries:
Category 2(A):
Children whose parents have both died on or after 1 April 2020.- Category 2(B): Children who have lost a single parent (including where the other parent had already died).- Category 2(C): Children who lost the parent who was the main earner and still live with the other parent. 1. Children under Kith and Kin Care (Category 2(A) & 2(B)): ₹2,500/- every month until the child turns 18 years of age or is adopted, whichever comes first, credited electronically to the caregiver family's bank account for the child's upkeep, health and education.1. Children in Institutional Care (Category 2(A) & 2(B)): ₹1,000/- every month until the child turns 18 years of age or is adopted, whichever comes first, placed as a recurring deposit in the child's bank account, on top of 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/- every month until the child turns 18 years of age, credited electronically to the bank account of the surviving parent or the child for upkeep, health and education. (Support stops if the child is surrendered and placed for adoption.) Additional Benefits:
Cover under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (State…
Cover under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (State Health Assurance Scheme).
Entitlements under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)…
Entitlements under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) or the State Food Security Scheme.
The child is helped to keep studying without…
The child is helped to keep studying without fees at the school attended before the second parent died. If the child moves to where relatives live, admission to a comparable school is arranged as far as possible, and support is given for admission to OAV, KV or another Govt school as per their norms, if needed.
Linkage with the Department of Higher Education's Green…
Linkage with the Department of Higher Education's Green Passage Scheme for higher studies.
Benefits of Biju Shishu Surakshya Yojana, Juvenile Justice…
Benefits of Biju Shishu Surakshya Yojana, Juvenile Justice Fund and other Government schemes, where eligible.
Caregiver families get priority under Pradhan Mantri Awas…
Caregiver families get priority under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Biju Pakka Ghara Yojana or other applicable schemes, if eligible.
The Child Welfare Committee (CWC), working with DCPU,…
The Child Welfare Committee (CWC), working with DCPU, Tahasildar and Police, safeguards the child's assets and properties.
DCPU provides individual attention and regular follow-up to…
DCPU provides individual attention and regular follow-up to secure proper care and protection.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
Death certificate(s) of the deceased parent(s) or main…
Death certificate(s) of the deceased parent(s) or main earner
A document establishing the child's identity
A document establishing the child's identity
Specially Cared Child certificate from the DCPU
Specially Cared Child certificate from the DCPU
CWC (Child Welfare Committee) order sanctioning the care…
CWC (Child Welfare Committee) order sanctioning the care arrangement (for kith-and-kin or institutional care)
DCPU-prepared Social Investigation Report (SIR)
DCPU-prepared Social Investigation Report (SIR)
Any additional papers that may be needed
Any additional papers that may be needed
How to Apply
Offline Application
Applicants can apply for Ashirbad: Scheme for Specially Cared Children through the offline application process outlined below.
An eligible child, the caregiver family, or the surviving parent may apply straight to the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), carrying the necessary documents such as death certificates. Process For Approval:
Children are identified by the District Child Protection…
Children are identified by the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) through CHILDLINE, GP and block-level Child Protection Committees, Frontline Workers, Civil Society Organisation, etc., after which it prepares a proper SlR and gathers supporting documents.
The Collector and District Magistrate ensures that a…
The Collector and District Magistrate ensures that a special drive is held every year to identify such specially cared children so that no eligible child is missed, and OSCPS maintains a State-level database of these children.
The eligible child or caregiver family may apply…
The eligible child or caregiver family may apply to the DCPU directly with the death certificates. After the SIR and enquiry, the DCPO processes the claim, ideally within 30 days of the application.
The DCPU is the competent authority to issue…
The DCPU is the competent authority to issue the "specially care child certificate" needed for the benefits, and every such child is also given an I-card.
Following due enquiry, the DCPO places the claim…
Following due enquiry, the DCPO places the claim before the Collector and District Magistrate, the sanctioning authority for the scheme's assistance.
The DCPO releases the financial assistance into the…
The DCPO releases the financial assistance into the account of the beneficiary/caregiver family/ remaining parent as described above.
Working with frontline workers of the Department of…
Working with frontline workers of the Department of Women and Child Development, the CWC and DCPU carry out follow-up visits and document each child's progress.
Every month, the DCPU sends a progress report…
Every month, the DCPU sends a progress report to OSCPS in the prescribed format.
The DCPU liaises with District-level officers of different…
The DCPU liaises with District-level officers of different departments so that every benefit reaches these children.
Any shortfall in funds or special need of…
Any shortfall in funds or special need of a child is covered from the CMRF. Grievance Redressal The Collector and District Magistrate acts as the scheme's grievance redressal authority. Where a child faces severe hardship because of the death, on or after 1st April 2020, of a caregiver not covered by the eligibility conditions above, and strong humanitarian grounds exist, the Collector and District Magistrate may, after due diligence and personal satisfaction, extend assistance as appropriate.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.