A district-level orientation programme was organised on Tuesday to identify the beneficiaries of the eligible hapless children under the newly launched ‘Ashirwad’ scheme of State Government.
The scheme has been launched in June to protect the interest including monthly financial assistance and healthcare and education etc of the children who lost their parents or sole earning member of the family on account of Covid or any other reasons effective from April 2020. District Child Protection Officer Jubak Majhi said that an orientation programme for the Ashirwad scheme was held under the chairmanship of the district Collector on Tuesday.
Besides, Block Development Officers, the ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, CDPO, Child Welfare Committee members and Childline members were present. The officials have been asked to expedite the process of identification of genuine beneficiaries across all blocks. Reports said as many as about 250 children either lost one or both of their parents in district who are eligible under scheme. But the identification process is moving at a snail’s pace as much stress was not laid on it by field workers. CWC Chairman Bhagirathi Barik, “The children identified by the field workers are produced before us.
And after verifying mandatory aspects for eligibility, we recommend their names to district administration for a further detailed and final verification. Till now nearly 50 children have been recommended by CWC.” However, district Collector has laid stress on expediting identification process with all relevant documents including death certificates, income proof etc for beneficiaries,” he informed.