Gujarat: Orphaned by Covid, dazed by aid complexities

AHMEDABAD: Simran Bhojwani, 12, a resident of Nava Vadaj, lost her father Hiralal a few months back. As her new academic year is about to begin, the family is scrounging around for her fees.

A social worker, working with the family closely, said Hiralal first exhibited signs of fever. When he was taken to a nearby hospital due to shortness of breath, it was already too late. “The family does not have any proof that he had died of Covid-19. The death certificate doesn’t mention it. Would she be covered under the new scheme?” asked a family member.
As the central and state governments announced schemes to support children who have been orphaned by Covid-19, activists and NGOs say the task is not easy – primarily due to the fact that many of these families do not possess documentary proof that their family members died of Covid. Experts pointed out that often the deaths took place after their discharge due to post-Covid complications. “Would they be included in the list? We got to know that the rules are still being formed. We are hopeful that such cases would find a place in the register,” said another official working with a child NGO who did not wish to be named.