UGC writes to all VCs, asks them to create supernumerary seats for children who lost parents amidst the pandemic

The University Grants Commission, in a letter, has asked the Vice Chancellors of all universities to create supernumerary sets for students whose parents died due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The UGC further informed that the identified children will be receiving a ‘PM CARES for Children Scheme, 2021’ certificate too. PM CARES FOR CHILDREN SCHEME 2021 The UGC letter to VCs across the nation reads, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced comprehensive support for children who have lost both parents during the Covid pandemic.” “Accordingly, the government has launched the PM CARES for children scheme. PM CARES FOR CHILDREN SCHEME, 2021 The letter by UGC further read, “These children will be issued the PM CARES for Children Scheme, 2021 certificate by the ministry.” Directing Higher Education Institutions to set-up supernumerary seats, the letter added, “In view of this, all Higher Education Institutions are advised to create supernumerary seats to accommodate such children to pursue their higher education, whenever they become eligible.” SEAT RESERVATION FOR ORPHANS OF Covid-19 All India Council for Technical Education announced on Tuesday that two seats in every course will be reserved for candidates covered under the PM CARES fund who were orphaned by Covid-19 for the upcoming academic year 2022-23 in its affiliated polytechnics. APPLICATION RECEIVED UNDER PM-CARES FOR CHILDREN The government informed the parliament that as many as 4,302 children who were orphaned amidst the pandemic were approved to be eligible for benefits of the total 8,973 applications received seeking support under the ‘PM-CARES for Children’ scheme.