Chief Minister’s Covid-19 Widows Support Scheme, Assam

On July 11, 2021 Assam government launched ‘Chief Minister’s Covid-19 Widows Support Scheme’ for those women who lost their husbands due to covid. This scheme was launched by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Under this scheme, a one-time assistance of Rs. 2.5 lakh will be given to each widow beneficiary. The assistance amount under the scheme will be given through cheques. It is mandatory under the scheme that the death of the husband should be due to covid and the family income of such families should be less than 5 lakhs per annum. Currently 873 beneficiaries have been notified under the scheme, however the number is expected to increase. CM handed over cheques to about 176 beneficiaries from districts like Kamrup (metro), Nalbari, Darrang, Baksa, Morigaon, Nagaon, Goalpara and Kamrup in Guwahati.

Overview:

Objectives and Benefits:

• The main objective of the scheme is to provide assistance to the women who lost their husbands due to covid
• Under the scheme, one-time financial assistance of Rs. 2.5 lakhs will be provided to the widows
• This assistance amount is provided to the women in through cheques which can be easily encashed
• It aims at providing social and financial security to the women belonging to lower income groups in these difficult times
• This scheme is for betterment and welfare of the women who lost their husbands in these tough and unprecedented times across the state

Eligibility:

• Woman’s husband should be a Covid-19 positive patient at the time of death
• It should be certified by the State level Covid Death Audit Board
• Woman should belong to a low-income group with a family income of less than 5 lakhs per annum

Scheme Details:

• Chief Minister’s Covid-19 Widows Support Scheme is launched by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday, July 11, 2021
• This scheme is mainly launched for supporting the women in the state who lost their husbands due to covid
• Under this scheme a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 2.5 lakhs will be provided to the beneficiaries
• Woman should be found eligible for assistance as per the eligibility norms under the scheme
• One time assistance amount will be provided to the beneficiary through cheque
• Widows of government servants will not be covered under this scheme as they will get family pension as per the norms
• Beneficiaries sunder Orunodoi and Widow pension scheme are eligible for the assistance under this scheme
• Currently about 873 eligible beneficiaries are identified under the scheme
• At the time of launch CM handed over cheques to about 176 beneficiaries from districts like Kamrup (metro), Nalbari, Darrang, Baksa, Morigaon, Nagaon, Goalpara and Kamrup in Guwahati.
• Enrollment process is still going on the districts and more beneficiaries upto 2000-2500 are likely to be identified under the scheme
• The state government is taking various efforts to extend support to the people in the state impacted due to covid
• This scheme is a crucial step by the government to help the widows in these tough and unprecedented times thereby ensuring their welfare and social security