Death certificate requirement hindered Covid orphans scheme
Nearly half the District Child Protection Units (DCPU) interviewed by Vidhi in Maharashtra mentioned difficulties in procuring these certificates and documents for orphans
image for illustrative purpose
As of February 15, out of the nearly 10,386 children who lost their guardians during the Covid-19 pandemic, 718 children were based in Maharashtra, which boasts of having the second highest number of vulnerable children in India out of a total of 1.5 lakh, and is also among the top five states with the highest number of children orphaned during Covid-19.
Vidhi Maharashtra's latest report, 'Vulnerable Children of Maharashtra', authored by Dr Rahela Khorakiwala and Sakshi Pawar, examines the status of children orphaned by the Covid-19 pandemic and suggests measures to address gaps. This report is the first report in the series, 'lest we forget' by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.
Talking to Bizz Buzz, Sakshi Pawar, Research Fellow (Vidhi Maharashtra), says, "While it is commendable that the government tracked and offered financial assistance to orphans with immediacy even during the pandemic, the schemes should have attempted to remedy a more systemic set of problems that were affecting child welfare rather than a blanket set of schemes that were offered to children orphaned during the pandemic."
The study finds that Government intervention was hindered by the requirement of the Covid-19 death certificate. In order to avail schemes released for orphans during the pandemic, a Covid-19 death certificate was required. Nearly half the District Child Protection Units (DCPU) interviewed by Vidhi in Maharashtra mentioned difficulties in procuring these certificates and documents for orphans.
An emphasis on children orphaned by Covid-19 disregarded the needs of other vulnerable children. A 2018 survey of Child Care Institutions (CCI) conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, found that abandoned children and children of single parents – not orphans – formed the highest demographic of children in need of care and protection. Yet, schemes available to them appeared meagre in comparison to the financial assistance provided to children orphaned by Covid-19.
Most systemic issues existed before the pandemic. Most DCPUs and Child Welfare Committees of Maharashtra stated that even before the pandemic there were difficulties in coordination and on-ground implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children Act), 2015 (JJ Act) due to limited staffing, funding and training. CCIs however stated that they faced additional difficulties during the pandemic as they saw a decrease in donations.
Family based care was preferred over institutional care. Only 4 per cent of children orphaned by the pandemic in Maharashtra were placed in CCIs. Vidhi's study found that more children were sent to family members for care. While the JJ Act prioritises family-based care over institutional care, such a push may not be in the best interest of a child, especially given the lack of adequate follow-ups on these children by DCPUs.
