Rourkela: More than 50,000 children across Odisha, including 1,581 in Sundargarh district, who lost either one or both parents to Covid-19, have started receiving financial assistance under the Ashirbad scheme after payments were halted from March this year.The dues for March and April have already been credited to beneficiaries’ accounts, while payments for May, June and July are expected to be released in a single instalment shortly. Officials said monthly payments would resume regularly thereafter.The development comes weeks after TOI highlighted the issue in reports published on July 8, titled ‘No Financial Aid for Covid Orphans Since March; To Be Resolved Soon: Official’, and on July 10, ‘BJP, BJD Lock Horns Over Delay in Release of Aid to Covid Orphans’.Following the reports and subsequent discussions, the department expedited the process and released the pending assistance for March and April.Launched in 2021, the Ashirbad scheme provides financial support to children affected by the pandemic. Children who lost both parents are entitled to Rs 2,500 per month, while those who lost a parent who was the family’s breadwinner receive Rs 1,500 per month until they attain the age of 18. For children staying in childcare institutions, Rs 1,000 is deposited every month in a recurring deposit account in their name until they turn 18, while the institution takes care of their education, healthcare and other basic needs.“I am very happy that the pending amount for March and April, totalling Rs 3,000, has been credited to my account for my daughter, who studies in Class VIII. The money will help support her education. I hope the remaining dues are also released soon and the monthly assistance continues regularly,” said a woman whose husband died during the Covid pandemic in 2021.District child protection officer, Sundargarh, Sribanta Jena said beneficiaries have started receiving pending dues. “The assistance that had been stopped since March has now been credited for March and April. We have been informed that the dues for May, June and July will be credited shortly, after which the amount will be released every month as scheduled,” he said.A senior govt official confirmed that the delay occurred as the proposal for continuation of the scheme was awaiting approval from the Expenditure Finance Committee. “The proposal has now been approved. Payments for March and April have been released, while the remaining dues for May to July will be credited shortly in one instalment. Aug onwards, beneficiaries would receive the assistance every month as per the scheme guidelines,” the official said.
