The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has informed the Supreme Court that over 75,000 children have either lost one parent or became an orphan during the Covid-19 pandemic and are in need of care and protection.
In an additional affidavit, the child rights body said the number of children who have lost either their mother or father or both parents between April 1, 2020, to July 23, 2021, is based upon the information uploaded on “Bal Swaraj” portal up to July 23. The child rights body said a total of 75,320 children have become orphans or lost either parent amid the pandemic, and this also includes 247 children, who were abandoned. It said that of all the children affected due to the pandemic, those in the age group 8-13 years were the highest, at 29,886.
The NCPCR said it is presently in the process of examining data, which has been uploaded by the states/UTs on the Bal Swaraj portal for purpose of ensuring that all benefits for which each child is entitled are being given adequately.
The child rights body said that it is pertinent to mention, until and unless the individual childcare plan of each child is prepared and orders of the Child Welfare Committee are passed, the clear picture regarding the needs and requirements of these children are difficult to examine.
The affidavit was submitted in the suo motu case taken up by the top court in connection with spread of Covid-19 in children protection homes. The case was initiated in March 2020, and in this year, amid the second wave, the top court took note of the issue of children who became orphans during the pandemic.
