Grim truth: Covid snatches parents of 23 kids in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: As many as 23 children have been orphaned in Punjab after losing one or both their parents during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As per the state government data collected till Wednesday, the parent/parents of these children died due to Covid between March 31, 2020, and May 31, 2021. There were some who lost their surviving parent to the virus.
Raji P Srivastava, principal secretary of the social security and women and child development department, said the state government is ensuring that the benefit of all ongoing schemes is extended to orphaned children without any difficulty. Being the nodal department for the care of orphaned children, it has issued a set of instructions to all concerned departments of the state government on May 25.
"In all cases of children orphaned by Covid, the proper procedure is being followed, social investigation is being conducted, the child and his close relatives are interviewed and their views are ascertained," she added.
The senior IAS officer further added that initially most such children have been taken in by their close relatives and those who are not accepted by their relatives or those who do not have relatives, will be taken into state government’s children's homes. Siblings will stay in the same child care institution.
Such orphaned children would also be produced before the child welfare committee of the relevant district. Child development project officers (CDPOs) of each block have been designated as special mentors for each such child and they will act as counsellor-cum-motivator for the child till they grow up.
The state government has constituted a monitoring committee under the chairmanship of Aruna Chaudhary, cabinet minister of the social security and women and child development, which would at least meet once a month and review in detail the relief measures being put in place for every single case. The department would maintain the record of all such affected children and apprise them in writing of the welfare measures being offered to them.
The SC has already taken suo motu notice in the case and is monitoring the measures being taken by various states and UTs to extend benefits to the orphaned children.
There are 7 cases in Bathinda district where the child has lost one or both the parents to Covid-19. The district administration is working to send these children to the child care home as there is no one left to take care of them. The district administration is providing food to such families.
At Barnala, two sisters lost both their parents to the virus. Now, the girls, aged 17 and 12, are being looked after by their married brother. Barnala district child protection officer Abhishek Singla said that all benefits admissible in this case will be provided to the children and a case is being prepared for assistance.