1.2 lakh orphans across Maharashtra fail to get monthly assistance of Rs 2,250 from state govt
Nashik: More than 1.2 lakh orphaned children across Maharashtra have not received the monthly monetary assistance from state govt since Sept 2024. The guardians of these children have alleged that the assistance was stopped after state govt began providing aid to women through the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
The children are given assistance under the Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Child Care Scheme. The list includes children who lost either one or both their parents due to Covid-19.
A senior officer from the Women and Child Development Commissionerate, Pune, admitted that there were more than 1.2 lakh such orphans across the state who received the assistance and have not received any money for 10 months now.
"There has been some technical issue regarding funds, and as soon as it is resolved, the funds will be cleared," he said on the condition of anonymity.
When asked if the reason for the non-disbursal of funds to these orphans was connected to the Ladki Bahin scheme, the officer refused to comment.
Despite several attempts, state minister for women and child development Aditi Tatkare was not available for comment till the time of going to press.
According to the Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2024-25, the scheme had 80,224 beneficiaries in 2023-24 and 1,05,595 beneficiaries till Dec 2024.
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Maharashtra govt incurred an expenditure of Rs 190.97 crore in the 2023-24 financial year. However, till Dec 2024, govt had only spent Rs 40.5 crore on the scheme.
There are as many as 7,300 such orphans receiving aid in Nashik district. They last got the money in their accounts in Aug 2024.
Panchavati resident Sanket*, one of the beneficiaries of the scheme, said, he received Rs 2,250 every month in his bank account directly from state govt.
"I lost both my parents to Covid. I stay with my maternal uncle, who is a labourer. My sister and I are not receiving the aid now. We don't know when we will get this assistance regularly," he said.
Std VIII student Aziz*, who lives in the Old City area, faced a similar plight. "I lost my father due to Covid-19. I have a younger brother, and my mother works in a private hospital. The assistance helped us get admission in a good private school," he said.
Aziz added: "The non-receipt of assistance is taking a toll on me and my school, which is putting pressure on my family for the fees."
Many guardians said the children were not a burden on them but sought govt assistance due to the situation they were forced into since Covid.
"My wife succumbed to Covid, and it happened despite spending a huge amount on medicines. I had to sell my two-wheeler and other valuables to arrange for funds of about Rs 1.5 lakh.
I also lost my job. This is the reason that I am seeking govt assistance for the future of my two children," said Ramesh Patil, a worried parent.
The beneficiaries include orphans under the age of 18, children whose parents cannot be traced, kids who have not been adopted, those who have lost one parent or are impacted due to family disputes and under govt child care. Children of people with leprosy, HIV or other serious life-threatening ailments, or kids of convicts serving life sentence and those whose both parents have a handicap are also eligible for the financial assistance.
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