New Delhi, 31 December 2021 – The Karnataka government has stepped up its efforts to help children who have regrettably lost their parents due to COVID-19 by launching a relief fund. The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavraj Bommai, announced that the state government will take care of the schooling, shelter and food for the orphaned children. He informed that the administration would conduct a state-wide survey to determine the number of deceased and the children suffering due to this pandemic.
After distributing cheques towards the compensation awarded to families who lost their kin to the virus, Bommai said, “We will provide schooling, education, clothing, food and shelter to all those children who have lost their parents.”
As per the Karnataka CM, this move is expected to benefit more than 25,601 people.
Compensation to BPL and APL Families
The CM expressed, “It is upsetting to see that many families have lost their brothers, sisters, mothers, wives, fathers and children.”
- In line with the assessed data, Bommai declared at the event at National College Grounds, Basavangudi, that the government has approved and provided compensation to 25,601 applicants, out of which 12,302 cheques were given to the BPL families and provided relief to more than 11,000 APL families.
- According to the recent reports, the Government of Karnataka handed compensation cheques of INR 1.5 lakh to the families below poverty line (BPL) and INR 50,000 each to above poverty line (APL) families.
- Till now the BPL families were given cheques only for INR 1 lakh. However, the officials have affirmed that the rest of the amount will be paid by the Centre soon through direct benefit transfer.
Even though the maximum of the compensatory amount was paid to the affected families, they were not satisfied with their amount. The kin of the deceased recalled how the virus changed their lives forever.
Meanwhile, Chamrajpet MLA, BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, who was also present at the event, asked Bommai to provide INR 50,000 from the state funds to APL families similar to how it was being done for BPL families. Bommai affirmed that this matter would be discussed with the revenue department.
On Monday alone, nearly 1,000 cheques were distributed to COVID affected families. Furthermore, Karnataka’s Revenue Minister, R Ashoka, has asked all applicant-families to talk to their respective zonal officers and collect their cheques if not taken.
