The Government has announced the introduction of a new bank account system named ‘Artha’ aimed at securing the future of probationary, institutionalised, and street children.
The initiative is designed to facilitate the provision of a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to 9,191 children, with a budgetary allocation of Rs. one billion for this year.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday (14), Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated that the programme seeks to ensure the protection of children until they are able to lead independent lives. The minister added: “Children who have been abandoned or orphaned due to various circumstances should receive the same protection, love, and opportunities for building their futures as any other child.”
According to her, all individuals under the age of 18 will be considered eligible as children under the programme. In the case of institutionalised children, the allowance will be provided directly to the respective institutions to safeguard their right to education up to the age of 16.
She further noted that 9,191 children in 356 Child Development Centres islandwide will benefit from the programme. Of the monthly Rs. 5,000 allowance, Rs. 3,000 will be directed to the institutions, while Rs. 2,000 will be deposited into the newly-established Artha accounts. The latter will be accessible to the beneficiary children once they reach 18 years of age.
The programme to grant a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to children held in detention homes, child development centres or with a guardian and street children will commence today (15), Paulraj stated. She noted that institutional care is provided in detention homes and child development centres for children who do not have proper care and protection in the home that they live in, due to the loss of parents, the loss of custody, or even under the custody of both the mother and the father or one of them and also to orphaned and abandoned children.
It has been reported that by the end of 2024, about 9,191 children are receiving residential care in 356 child development centres run by the Government, voluntary organisations and non-governmental organisations throughout the country. Paulraj stated that under the programme, a sum of Rs. 3,000 will be provided to the respective development centre where the child is being hosted or to the guardian through the National Savings Bank (NSB) for education, health and other welfare expenses. Furthermore, a sum of Rs. 2,000 will be deposited monthly in a savings account in the NSB in favour of the child for future use, Paulraj added. Paulraj noted that the money will be deposited to the relevant accounts on the 10th of every month.