Maharashtra’s Women and Child Development Minister Yashomati Thakur stated Indian Express About the state authorities’s plans, course of challenges and long-term options for kids who’ve misplaced their dad and mom as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
How did the thought of ​​supporting youngsters who’ve misplaced their dad and mom come about?
Yashomati Thakur: In the primary wave of the pandemic, we didn’t see so many instances, however throughout the second wave, we stored getting stories of individuals spreading messages that youngsters are prepared for adoption as a result of their dad and mom have handed away. People are usually not conscious of adoption legal guidelines and we realized that it’s time we must always do one thing.
Around the identical time, my cousin and her husband died. He did not inform us that he was not feeling properly and that his total household was contaminated. His loss of life was very stunning for me. Then we shaped a job power and the police, village growth and income system helped in monitoring these youngsters.
We made the collector the chairman of the committee and requested him for the figures. So far, greater than 400 youngsters have misplaced each their dad and mom to the virus. There will likely be extra. We try our greatest to not miss a single youngster. Every youngster has a special story, a tough scenario.
Most instances are of youngsters who’ve misplaced a single dad or mum. Is the present monetary support adequate?
Yashomati Thakur: We suggest to extend the monetary help below the Bal Sangopan Yojana (for kids who’ve misplaced a single dad or mum) from Rs 1,125 to Rs 2,500 per thirty days. The authorities is but to take a call on this. I’ve been a single dad or mum and at instances I had no cash in my pocket. So, I understand how tough it’s.
The help of Rs 5 lakh is just for orphan youngsters. I’ve stated that youngsters who’ve misplaced one dad or mum must be given the identical significance as youngsters who’ve misplaced each dad and mom. We can not give 5 lakh rupees to everybody, however the authorities ought to no less than improve the quantity below Bal Sangopan Yojana. There are many schemes for widows and all of them will likely be applied.
While Maharashtra is coaching 50 counselors, they’re nonetheless insufficient for the hundreds of youngsters tracked thus far who’ve misplaced their dad and mom.
Yashomati Thakur: Look, we are able to neither carry on saying nor implement. We can solely declare what’s price doing. We want extra individuals. We have affiliated with Psychiatric Association of India to supply counsellor. We have created WhatsApp teams for this and are personally investigating it. There is a necessity for coordination between WCD, Education and Public Health departments on this as additionally it is their duty. Mental well being is among the most vital matters that we’ve got to concentrate to. Our division is making efforts for the youngsters.
One concern within the floor workers stories is the paucity of manpower. There are big vacancies in WCD division.
Yashomati Thakur: If the federal government permits, we are going to recruit. The earlier authorities didn’t enable recruitment. When I took over, I first gave employment to 50,000 individuals. There is extra to return, however there are norms that none of us can break till the CM decides to offer us a free hand and permits us to recruit. Having stated that the prevailing staff must work exhausting to streamline the scheme for kids. We are additionally tying up with NGOs to assist these youngsters.
Private NGOs search revenue in public-private partnerships.
These NGOs are able to work freed from price. I wished to offer laptops and cellphones to youngsters who had been orphaned as a result of pandemic however the financial scenario doesn’t enable this with authorities funds. If there are NGOs who’re prepared to supply this assist and assist training to those youngsters, we’re able to take part. An MoU has been signed and we comply with it carefully. NGO Project Mumbai has stated that they may pay tuition charges for 3 years for Covid orphans.
There are youngsters who misplaced their dad and mom resulting from suspected COVID however don’t have RT-PCR report. Are they eligible for presidency help?
Yashomati Thakur: Yes completely. We have additionally directed our workers to file them and supply help to them.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
