<span style="color: #222222;">Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Union Territory to provide relief to COVID affected; Saksham to provide special pension and scholarship to COVID victims' families.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Administrative Council (AC), under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today approved the grant of financial relief through Special Assistance Scheme for COVID Mortalities (SASCM/Saksham) to the families of COVID victims.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports that the scheme aims to ensure sustenance of families who have lost their sole breadwinner.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Under the new scheme, Saksham, the surviving spouse and one eldest surviving member of the affected families will receive a special monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 through DBT, provided that they are not otherwise receiving any pension under other schemes.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Additionally, the scheme will also provide special scholarships to children who lost their earning parent(s)/sibling(s)/guardian(s) to COVID.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The special scholarship will be paid annually at the rate of Rs. 20,000 through DBT to children studying up to 12th standard and Rs. 40,000 for higher education.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Administrative Council also approved creation of a Special Cell in the Social Welfare Department for handholding the families of COVID victims and facilitating the extension of benefits under different Government schemes including financial assistance for self-employment.</span><br />''  <br />