Stalin launches Tamil Nadu’s first ever policy for children

Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday released Tamil Nadu’s first-ever policy for children to ensure a safe environment and holistic development for them, including the provision of nutrition, education, healthcare.

Unveiling the “Tamil Nadu State Policy for Children 2021” at a function organised at the Secretariat, Stalin said that it was essential to devise a state-level policy for children to ensure their safe living, fulfilment of all their needs to promote holistic development and secure their rights. 

The Tamil Nadu State Policy for Children has been uniquely designed taking into account the achievement of their targeted growth parameters apart from their nutrition, education, health, gender parity and safety, the CM added.

Recalling the announcements made by Stalin on May 29 this year to assist children who lost their parents to COVID, an official statement from the Social Welfare and Women Welfare Department on Saturday said the government has paid Rs 207.59 crore to 6,749 children as solatium, including Rs 12.80 crore to 256 children who lost both their parents to COVID.

Stalin also distributed cheques to 10 children as a part of a scheme which provides Rs 2,000 monthly dole for the maintenance of children of impoverished parents for three years by families instead of them being maintained by institutions. 

The government also allotted Rs 1.37 crore in the current fiscal for the Rs 2,000 monthly dole scheme that would benefit 1,148 children on a wait-list.