UGC writes to all VCs, asks them to create supernumerary seats for children who lost parents amidst the pandemic

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to the Vice Chancellors of all universities to create supernumerary seats for children who were orphaned during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The University Grants Commission (UGC), in a letter, has asked the Vice Chancellors of all universities to create supernumerary sets for students whose parents died due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The commission added that the Ministry of Women and Child Development is identifying such children across the country to provide them with all possible support. The UGC further informed that the identified children will be receiving a ‘PM CARES for Children Scheme, 2021’ certificate too.

The UGC letter to VCs across the nation reads, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced comprehensive support for children who have lost both parents during the Covid pandemic.”

“Accordingly, the government has launched the PM CARES for children scheme. The Ministry of Women and Child Development with active support from District Magistrates of all states and UTs are identifying these children, so that all possible support can be extended to them,” it added.

The letter by UGC further read, “These children will be issued the PM CARES for Children Scheme, 2021 certificate by the ministry.”

Directing Higher Education Institutions to set-up supernumerary seats, the letter added, “In view of this, all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are advised to create supernumerary seats to accommodate such children to pursue their higher education, whenever they become eligible.”

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) announced on Tuesday that two seats in every course will be reserved for candidates covered under the PM CARES fund who were orphaned by Covid-19 for the upcoming academic year 2022-23 in its affiliated polytechnics.

The new clause was added to AICTE’s revised approval process norms for 2022-23 that was released on Tuesday.