Assam govt comes up with ‘Chief Minister’s COVID-19 Widows Support Scheme’

June 27: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has initiated the ‘Chief Minister’s COVID-19 Widows Support Scheme’ to provide financial assistance to the women who have lost their husbands due to #COVID-19 in Assam. 

Speaking about this new scheme, Chief Minister Dr Sarma said, “Many precious lives have been lost during the ongoing pandemic. With a motive to provide social and financial security to all widows who have lost their husbands due to COVID-19, the Government of Assam is launching a special ‘Chief Minister’s COVID-19 Widows Support Scheme’. The Scheme promises a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 2.5 lakhs to help such widows.”

Eligibility Criteria:

• The beneficiary should be a permanent resident of Assam
• The beneficiary’s husband should have died with a COVID positive status at the time of death, and it should be certified by the State level COVID Death Audit Board.
• The beneficiary must belong to a low-income family having an annual income up to Rs. 5 lakhs.
• Beneficiaries of ‘Orunudoi’ and ‘Widow Pension’ scheme are also eligible to get the benefit of this scheme.
• Widows of government servants will not be covered under this Scheme. They will get the family pension as per usual terms.

Process of Implementation:

• The Deputy Commissioner shall compile the list of eligible beneficiaries from the NHM database of COVID victims. The list will be verified keeping in mind the eligibility criteria. On verification, the money will disbursed to the beneficiaries account.
• Any person who meets the eligibility criteria and is not a part of the final list can submit representation with supporting documents to the Deputy Commissioner concerned.

Documents Required:

• Certification by Deputy Commissioner that the beneficiary fulfills each of the eligibility criteria.
• Bank details like account number, bank name and branch, IFSC codes etc.