UP govt to provide benefits of Atal Residential School Scheme to children affected by Covid-19 pandemic

The Atal Residential School Scheme aims to provide quality and free education to children of poor labourers.

This proposal for amendments to the scheme was approved at the 57th meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board on Thursday.

The government granted a NOC (No Objection Certificate) to the proposal at the meeting.

Once the amendments come into effect, children, who lost one or both their parents to the Covid-19 pandemic, will also be able to draw the desired benefits of the scheme. The Women's Welfare Department will make available the list of these children.

Under the scheme, free quality residential education from classes 6 to 12 will also be provided.The order issued by the state government mentions that the amendment to the present system of the Atal Residential School Scheme was unanimously approved by the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

The maintenance and social security of registered construction workers will be fully ensured in the interest of eligible construction workers.

The eligibility conditions of the scheme have also been amended. Under this, admission will be given only to children of registered construction workers, who have completed at least three years of membership of the board after registration. Earlier, this period was limited only to one year.

However, the eligibility of a maximum of two children of the registered working family to study in the school remains the same as before. Every year, children of construction workers and those eligible for the Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana will be granted admission on the basis of the procedure laid down by the Atal Residential School Committee.

The state government will bear the expenses pertaining to destitute children and those eligible for the Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana (General). Through the Atal Residential School Committee, funds will be provided to these schools.

For this, the Committee will have to operate a separate account. Under the scheme, the same rule was prescribed earlier for orphans as well, but now the names of destitute children and children eligible for Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana have been added.

The curriculum in these schools will be formulated by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the student capacity of each school will be 1000, half of whom will be boys and the other half, girls. Quality hostel, food, sports, medical, security etc. facilities will also be provided to the children at these schools. (ANI)