GUWAHATI: Madhujamini Choudhury, a class VIII student of Guwahati, wants to study astrophysics when she grows up besides taking care of her seven-year-old brother Sayan Dhiman, now that they are orphaned and alone.
They lost their mother to cancer in 2017 and their father to Covid-19 last month.
The sister-brother duo is among 11 children who have been orphaned in the pandemic in the state and on Thursday the state government and people of Assam embraced them as their own providing them the financial support to take care of their education and upkeep till they stand on their feet.
Synchronising with the completion of one month in office of the BJP-led government in the state, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the day dedicated the Chief Minister Sishu Seva Scheme and handed over the cheques of financial assistance to these children.
The funds have been donated by people and corporate houses.
Each child was given a fixed deposit certificate of principal amount of Rs 7,81,200, a cheque of rs 3500 as the first monthly assistance which will continue till they attain the age of 24 years.
On completion of 24 years of age, the principal amount parked as fixed deposit against each beneficiary would be credited to their bank accounts.
Each child was also given a laptop.
“After the death of our father, we are all alone in our house except for two domestic help and a lady who has been taking care of my brother since his birth after the death of our mother in 2017.
We all were infected with Covid by our father’s condition deteriorated and had to be shifted to hospital where he died on May 20.
We recovered at our home,” Madhujamini told TOI.
Their father, Dhiman Kumar Choudhury was a serving Assam Civil Service officer and was the director of border area development department when he died.
“I wish to study astrophysics after graduation,” Madhujamini said.
But, little Sayan was more interested to know why the chief minister, who holds a doctorate degree, writes doctor if he was not a physician.
“I am not sure what I want to become later but i am happy that I have got a laptop.
The one at home has become old and I think there is some problem with the internet,” Sayan said.
The Chief Minister described the day as a very significant one because on the occasion of completion of one month in power, the present State government could render its helping hands to the beneficiaries who lost both their parents due to COVID.
“This small effort I believe will help in enabling them to lead a life of dignity despite pecuniary hardship that fate might lead them to.” Under the scheme, for children below 10 years and adolescent girls with no guardian, state government will take steps to house such children in one of the child care institutions and provide adequate funding towards their upkeep including educational expenditure.
Orphaned adolescent girls will be given accommodation in suitable and reputed institutions to ensue their sensitive care and proper protection.
One such institution is Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya residential schools.
“The 11 children whom we met today have an extended family to support them and therefore they need not be put in child care institution,” Sarma said.
The state government will also extend one- time financial package of Rs 50,000 as marriage assistance and one tola of gold under Arundhati scheme to each adolescent girl orphaned by the poandemic.
For skill development and training, laptops or tablets will be provided to school or college going orphan for undergoing vocational training.
All such students will be linked to skill-based education and provided skill training.
The chief minister also announced that those women who have lost their husbands due to COVID, would be give Rs.
2.5 lakh as one-time financial support from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and will also be entitled to the benefits of Arunodoi scheme along with monthly widow pension under the ongoing Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension Scheme.
People and state government embrace Covid orphaned children in Assam
