Uttar Pradesh Considers Expanding Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana to Benefit 5,000 Children
The government of Uttar Pradesh is contemplating expanding the Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana scheme to assist 5,000 children across all 75 districts in the state, according to officials. The Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana was initiated with the aim of eradicating child labor.
Currently, child laborers from 20 districts in various divisions are benefitting from this scheme. The proposal to extend the program is currently under consideration by the Chief Minister. Once approved, the scheme will be implemented in all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, benefiting 5,000 children in total, as per Additional Chief Secretary Anil Kumar.
Under the scheme, working boys and girls are entitled to receive a monthly payment of Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200 respectively. The objective behind Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana is to provide compensation for eligible working children’s income so that they can enroll in schools and focus on their studies.
Children falling within the age group of 8 to 18 years are eligible for the scheme if they are engaged in work within the organized or unorganized sectors and contribute to their family’s income. The scheme covers various sectors such as agriculture, non-agriculture, self-employment, home-based establishments, domestic work, and other forms of labor.
The Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana was initiated by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Labor Department set a target to register 2,000 children under the scheme, and it has successfully achieved this goal. Given the program’s effectiveness and positive outcomes, various organizations and institutions have suggested expanding its coverage, according to officials.
Under the scheme, beneficiary boys and girls will receive financial assistance of Rs 12,000 and Rs 14,400 annually. In addition, beneficiaries who continue their education up to Class 8, 9, and 10 will receive Rs 6,000 for passing each grade. Moreover, an additional incentive of Rs 6,000 is provided to encourage their continued education.
The financial assistance will be granted for a maximum period of five years or until the beneficiary completes Class 10 education, whichever comes earlier. To be eligible for the financial assistance, beneficiaries must maintain 70 percent attendance in school, certified by the respective headmaster.
All beneficiaries receiving financial assistance will be registered with their Aadhaar number in the scheme’s e-tracking system. If beneficiaries do not have an Aadhaar number, they must obtain one within three months of joining the scheme. The financial assistance will be transferred to their bank account, and a notification will be sent to their registered mobile phone.
To be eligible for the Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana, working children/adolescents’ families must meet specific criteria. Families in which the mother or father, or both, have passed away are eligible. Families where one or both parents are permanently disabled, where the woman or mother is the head of the family, or where one or both parents suffer from serious incurable diseases can also take advantage of the scheme. Additionally, working children from landless families will be eligible, officials said.
The expansion of the Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana is a positive step towards eradicating child labor and providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children across Uttar Pradesh. By extending the scheme to all 75 districts, the government aims to secure the future of 5,000 children and empower them through education.
