WD&CW Dept. assured to take care of them
The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic orphaned 154 children across the state, officials from the Department of Women’s Development and Child Protection (WD&CW) said.
The officials are now busy collecting the data in all districts of the children who have lost both parents to the dreaded virus.
Representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the villagers have been asked to help WD&CW staff identify and share information about the orphaned children and protect them, said the child development and protection officers.
“We gathered information from Anganwadi teachers, NGOs and villagers. According to our information, 154 minor children in the state have lost both parents to COVID-19, ”said WD & CW director Kritika Shukla.
To date, 24 orphans have been identified in each district in Anantapur District, 18 in West Godavari, 16 in Visakhapatnam, 14 in Guntur and 12 each in Nellore and East Godavari districts. Ten children each in Kadapa, Krishna, Prakasam and Kurnool districts have been orphaned due to COVID, the director said.
“It is very sad that the love of their parents was taken away from the children. According to instructions from the Supreme Court and the Center, kh 10 lakh (as gratia) were set for all eligible orphans in the state. The WD & CW department will take care of the children, ”said Ms. Kritika.
The local Anganwadi teacher or worker and the women’s protection secretary will identify the orphans, which should be authorized by the responsible Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of the WD&CW department.
The local Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) and CDPO should monitor the child as they draw up the monthly interest on the lump sum, and the beneficiary is entitled to receive the money after they turn 25, the director said.
Regular monitoring
“In many cases, the children lost both parents within a few days. After the social and home study report is carried out, the children will be placed in childcare facilities (CCIs) and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayams (KGBVs) if no guardian is willing to take care of the children, ”said Krishna District Child Protection Officer, Ch. . Vijay Kumar.
“The WD & CW project leaders, CDPOs, Anganwadi supervisors, teachers and women protection secretaries have been instructed to send the personal details of orphans and half-orphans (whose parents died of COVID) every day at the village level in each district,” said the WD & CW director The Hindu on Tuesday.
“We will monitor the care and protection of children, even if the child is cared for by their family members (legal guardians). The government is taking every step to provide quality education and care for their future, ”said Ms. Kritika.