15 children orphaned in state by Covid; 113 children eligible for child service

Karnataka: Many children have lost their parents due to the Covid-19 epidemic, which has severely affected children.

According to government statistics, 115 children have been orphaned by Covid-19 since March 1, 2020 to August 2021.

With the exception of two children – (placed in the child care agency CCI), the remainder were handed over to the family members of the District Child Welfare Committee. 113 children out of 115 children are eligible for child service. In May this year, former CM Yeddyurappa announced the Child Service Project for orphaned children from Covid-19.

Sources said 103 families have started providing financial assistance under the scheme, while the remaining 10 are in the process of providing financial assistance.

According to official statistics, the highest number of children in Bengaluru-Chikkaballapur districts are 12 orphans, followed by Kolar-7, Bidar, Yadagiri, 6 in Hassan, 5 each in Bagalkot, Tumkur, Shimoga, Gadag, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Kodagu, Mysore and Ramanagara. In Tala 4, Vijayapura, Davangere, Chitradurga, Tala 2, Mandya, Belgaum, 3 in Bellary, Chamarajanagar, Haveri, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur, each has lost orphans.

Child service schemes are based on the advice of the central government and children get up to Rs 3,500 per month and logistical assistance till they graduate.

A total of 1,01,032 children across the country lost one or both parents from Kovid-19 between 2020 and 2323. Of these, 8,161 were orphaned and 396 were abandoned. The NCPCR has informed the Supreme Court that 92,475 children have lost one of their parents.