577 Kids Orphaned Due to COVID-19
As many as 577 children across India were orphaned after their parents died to COVID-19.
Smriti Irani is the Women and Child Development Minister. She said that approximately 577 children across India were orphaned after their parents died to COVID-19. This is based on reports of states and union territories from April 1. Ms Irani said in a tweet that the government of India is committed to support and protect every child due to loss of both parents to Covid-19. She said that these children are not abandoned and are under the watch and protection of district authorities. If such children need counselling, a team at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) is ready.
A source said that the Centre is in constant touch with states and districts about these children. There is no shortage of funds for their welfare. In another development, Secretary in the Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry Ram Mohan Mishra said that India is going to open one-stop centres (OSCs) in 10 Indian Embassies across nine countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Australia, Canada , Singapore and UAE, , while two will be established in Saudi Arabia. One-stop centres (OSCs) tackle cases of violence against women in these countries.
