COVID-19: What states have announced for orphaned children

NEW DELHI: As the second wave of COVID-19 intensified and deaths continued to mount, states discovered that a large number of children have become vulnerable due to both of their guardians dying of the disease.

Taking stock of the situation, the Supreme Court, on Friday, directed states to upload the information relating to children who have been orphaned by the pandemic.

The apex child rights body the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) also launched a COVID care link to collect information on the number of children orphaned during the pandemic. The commission also warned that the situation is making children susceptible to trafficking, abuse and illegal adoption.

On May 25, women and child development minister, Smriti Irani said that states had reported 577 children orphaned by COVID-19 since April 1, 2021.

Prime minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, announced many benefits for orphaned children under the PM CARES for children scheme. These include a fixed deposit amounting to Rs 10 lakh in the name of each child by the time they reach 18. The prime minister also announced that the government will pay students' fees for private schools or kendriya vidyalayas, pay the interest of their education loans and give a health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh till the age of 18.

With this development, here we take a look at the various announcements by state governments for protecting vulnerable children.

Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh Government has announced fixed deposits of Rs 10 lakh each to children whose parents have passed away due to COVID-19. Officials said the interest amount can be withdrawn every three months for education and basic amenities.

The officials were instructed to carve out a financial package with nationalized banks and that this amount will be kept in a fixed deposit until the child turns 25, the Times of India reported.

Delhi

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that children whose parents died because of COVID-19 will get Rs 2,500 per month till they turn 25. Kejriwal also said that the educational costs of these children will be paid for by the Delhi Government,

In addition, families who have lost their sole earning members will get Rs 2,500 per month. This is apart from the one-time payment of Rs 50,000 that was announced earlier.

Karnataka

The Karnataka Government has set up rehabilitation centres for children whose parents have passed away. The government has also set up pediatric COVID Care Centres for children in all districts and nodal officers to look after such children.

Kerala

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a special package for children who have lost their parents to COVID-19. In the package, Rs 3 lakh will be given as immediate relief for the children whose parents have died and a monthly sum of Rs 2,000 will be issued till their 18th birthday, VIjayan said.

Educational expenses of the children will also be covered till graduation.

Govt. of Kerala will provide a special package for children who have lost their parents to #Covid19. ₹3,00,000 will be given as immediate relief and a monthly sum of ₹2,000 will be issued till their 18th birthday. Educational expenses will be covered till graduation.

— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) May 27, 2021

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that students who have lost their parents would be provided with free education till graduation, along with a monthly stipend of Rs 5000.

The minister also said that the family of the deceased will also be provided free ration even if they are not eligible for it.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Governmenthas set up a 10-member task force in each of the 36 districts in the state to identify children who were orphaned due to the coronavirus pandemic, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope announced.

Education minister Varsha Gaikwad said that she has submitted a proposal to the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray for bearing the cost of education of the children whose parents have passed away due to COVID-19;

Covid-19 pandemic has caused havoc all around. It has been particularly devastating for children who have lost their parents to the dreaded virus. I have submitted a proposal to Hon. @CMOMaharashtra that the state govt should bear cost of education of such students.@OfficeofUT

— Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) May 27, 2021

Odisha

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced that the state will bear the cost of education and provide a monthly pension to those children whose parents have passed due to COVID-19..

The Odisha Government also informed that temporary homes have been created in all 30 districts to keep the distressed children whose families were affected by COVID-19.

Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Government announced that Rs 5 lakh will be deposited in the name of each orphaned child and the amount will be given to the child with interest when they attain 18 years of age.

The Tamil Nadu Government has also constituted a seven-member task force in all districts to provide care and protection to children affected and infected by COVID-19 as well as children of COVID-19-affected/infected parents. It said that the task force would produce such children before the Child Welfare Committee.

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat announced the Mukhyamantri Valsalya Yojana through which children who have lost their parents will be given Rs 3,000 per month up to the age of 21.

The state government will also take care of their education and reserve five percent of government jobs for them under the scheme.

Uttar Pradesh

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has announced that it will take responsibility for those children who lost both their parents during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

The government has identified 60 children across the state who lost both parents to the pandemic and another 609 whose parents or guardians are affected by Covid and need temporary care, the Times of India reports.

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