The second ILO–UNICEF (International Labour Organization – United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) joint report on social protection for children titled ‘More than a billion reasons: The urgent need to build universal social protection for children’ was released on March 01, 2023.
As per the report, 31 Indian states have implemented the national ‘PM CARES for Children scheme, which was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29th May 2021.
- Around 10,793 full orphans (children who have lost both parents) and 151,322 half-orphans (children who have lost one parent) benefited from the scheme.
- The report also mentioned about the national Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme of Indian government which has provided health insurance coverage of Rs 5,00,000 for all eligible children.
- Another annual scholarship project of India which provides Rs 20,000 for each school-age child (from primary to upper secondary school) was also noted in the report. So far, 4,302 children have received support from the scheme.
Global Scenario of the report:
i.The number of children without access to social protection is increasing year-on-year, leaving them at risk of poverty, hunger and discrimination.
ii.Globally, children are twice as likely as adults to live in extreme poverty and those struggling to survive on less than US$1.90 (Purchasing Power Parity) a day, approximately 356 million children.
iii.Due to reduction of child and family benefit coverage rates between 2016 and 2020 in every region of the world, no country was on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of achieving substantial social protection coverage by 2030.
iv.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Children living in multidimensional poverty increased by 15%, led to reversion of earlier progress in reducing child poverty.
About The PM CARES for Children Scheme:
i.PM CARES (Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations) for Children Scheme was launched for the orphan Children, who have lost both the Parents or legal Guardian or Adoptive Parents or Surviving Parent to COVID-19 pandemic starting from 11th March 2020.
ii.Benefits:
- Financial Support of Rs 10 lakh for all children which could be paid on a monthly basis from age 18 to 23 as a regular income support, or could be taken as a lump sum on reaching 23 years of age.
- Rehabilitation of all children for boarding & Lodging
- Assistance for Education – Admission in schools; Educational loans for higher education
- Health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakhs
- Scholarship of Rs 20,000 per child per annum for all school going children (Class 1-12)
iii.The Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, which is the nodal Ministry for looking after the welfare of Children in India has been entrusted with the responsibility of PM CARES for Children scheme.
About International Labor Organization (ILO):
Director-General – Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo
Headquarters – Geneva , Switzerland
Establishment – 1919
Members – 187 Member States
