Covid orphaned 82 children in Maharashtra, 1,964 lost 1 parent

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has identified 82 children orphaned by Covid-19, and another 1,964 children who have lost one parent to the virus in the state as part of a national drive to identify children in need of care as a result of the pandemic.
Not a single Covid orphan was identified from Mumbai and Aurangabad town, both of which have seen a large number of fatalities. Six were identified in Thane, 4 in Pune, 7 in Nagpur and 8 in Nashik. The highest of 12 was reported in Solapur. When asked about the low figure in Mumbai, a senior official said: “We are in the process of pooling cases from multiple sources.”

In May, the Supreme Court’s Juvenile Justice Committee had discussed the need to form task forces in states for the care of Covid orphans, given the risks of exploitation, trafficking or child labour. The state has set up a task force headed by district collectors and including members from civic bodies, police, district law officer, health official and child welfare officials to identify orphans and monitor their care.
“The Maharashtra government has always been sensitive to the needs of orphans and has schemes for reservations for them and non-institutional care. The task force for Covid-19 orphans will not only help in providing a care facility but will also address their legal rights over their parent’s property and mental health concerns,” said I A Kundan, principal secretary, women and child development department.
Information on orphans and children who have lost one parent are being collated from multiple sources, including hospitals, police, gram panchayats, anganwadi workers and helplines. “Hospitals treating Covid patients are now recording who will take guardianship of their children,” said Kundan. The state checks if a relative comes forward to claim guardianship of the orphan before going through the child welfare committee to access institutional care.
Officials have issued a strict warning against messages being circulated on social media for adoption of Covid orphans. “This carries the threat of trafficking. There is a well laid out legal procedure for adoption. Anyone who knows of a child in need of adoption should contact the Childline Helpline 1098 or the helpline of the state’s women and child development department, 7400015518 or 8308992222,” said Kundan. At the village level, anganwadi workers and state child welfare officials can be approached.