UGC asks colleges, universities to create supernumerary seats for COVID orphans

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has advised higher education institutions (HEIs) to create supernumerary seats for children who have lost both their parents during COVID-19 pandemic and come under the PM CARES for children scheme.

All the higher education institutions (HEIs) are advised to create supernumerary seats to accommodate such children to pursue their higher education, whenever they become eligible,” said an official notice from UGC.

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The Government of India has launched the PM CARES for Children scheme for such children. The Ministry of Women and Child Development with active support from the district magistrates of all the states, union territories (UTs) are identifying these children, so that all the possible support can be extended to them. These children will be issued a PM Cares for Children scheme 2021 certificate, said the notification.

In a related development, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has announced that all recognized institutions will offer two supernumerary seats to “gifted and talented” students and to students who lost their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic. These seats will be offered to students with exceptional talent as per AICTE norms.

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Of the 8,973 applications received for support under the 'PM-CARES for Children' scheme, as many as 4,302 children who were orphaned during the pandemic have been approved as eligible for benefits, the government said on March 16.

Responding to a question in Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani gave state/UT, gender and age-group wise details of such children. According to the data, 212 children aged 0-6 years, 1670 children aged 6-14 years, 2001 children aged 14-18 years and 418 young adults aged 18-23 years have received the approval. Irani said that till March 14, 2022, 8973 applications have been uploaded on the portal out of which, 4302 applications have been approved by district magistrates after due process.