Palanhar Yojana

The Social Justice and Empowerment Department Rajasthan Government launched the Palanhar Yojana to provide essential needs to unsheltered, uneducated and uncared orphans for their future well-being. Orphans refer to children who have lost their parents. Any child who has lost parents, been separated from them or abandoned is also an orphan. The Rajasthan Government offers financial assistance to the nearest relatives, foster families or institutions taking care of such orphans for their health, education, upbringing and other needs.

Benefits of Palanhar Yojana

It is mandatory for children between 2-6 years to be sent to the Anganwadi centres, and children above six years should be sent to schools. Under this scheme, monetary aid of Rs.500 per month will be provided to orphan children until they reach five years. After school admission, orphan children will be given Rs.1,000 every month till they reach 18 years old. The government will also provide an annual subsidy of Rs.2,000 (excluding the marriage and widow category) for the cost of shoes, clothing, stationery, etc.

Eligibility for Palanhar Yojana

The following children are eligible to get the benefits of the Palanhar Yojana scheme:

• Orphan children (children who have lost parents)
• Children whose parents are in jail are sentenced to the death penalty or life imprisonment
• Children of an abandoned or divorced woman
• Maximum three children of a widowed mother provided the mother does not receive any pension
• Desolated children due to their disability
• Children suffering from leprosy
• Children of AIDS victims

However, when the children mentioned above are living with the nearest relative or companion family, the relatives/families’ annual income should be below Rs.1.20 lakhs to obtain the benefit under this scheme. This scheme does not apply to the children of remarried widows.

Palanhar Yojana Application Process

The family or institute responsible for the child eligible to receive benefits of the Palanhar Yojana scheme should obtain, fill and submit the Palanhar Yojana application form with the concerned Development Officer in rural areas and to the Regional District Officer in urban areas. The respective officer will verify the application and sanction the grant to the family or institute.

Documents Required for Palanhar Yojana

The following documents are required to be submitted along with the Palanhar Yojana application form:

• Child’s Aadhaar card
• Death certificate of the parents (if applicable)
• Copy of the imprisonment/death penalty sentence (if applicable)
• Copy of medical certificate from ARD centre (if they have AIDS)
• Certificate of disability of above 40% (if applicable)
• Income certificate of the foster/companion family
• Domicile certificate of the adopting agent
• Certificate of acceptance of the child for its upbringing by the head of the foster/companion family 
• Certificate proof of the child studying in a school upon attaining six years