Lok Sabha Question No. 3051 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Children Orphaned due to COVID-19
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3051 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2024

## CHILDREN ORPHANED DUE TO COVID-19

## †3051. SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  children  orphaned  in  Osmanabad  (Dharashiv)  district  of Maharashtra during COVID-19 pandemic;
- (b) the present status of the such orphaned children;
- (c) whether any special initiative has been undertaken by the Government to offer employment and livelihood to such women who were widowed due to COVID19 pandemic, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether there are reports that the children orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic have become child labourers, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the special arrangements made to relieve these children from child labour and improve their lives?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (c): The Hon'ble Prime Minister announced PM CARES for Children scheme on 29.05.2021  to  support  children  who  lost  both  parents  or  surviving  parent  or  legal guardian  or  adoptive  parents  due  to  COVID-19  pandemic  during  11.03.2020  to 05.05.2023.  The  objective  of  the  Scheme  is  to  ensure  comprehensive  care  and protection of Children in a sustained manner and enable their well being through health insurance,  empower  them  through  education  and  equip  them  for  self-sufficient existence with financial support till 23 years of age. The scheme is accessible through an online portal i.e. www.pmcaresforchildren.in. Benefits under the Scheme have been given to 14 eligible children so far in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra. The Ministry of Women and Child Development ensured that its schemes/ programmes such as

One Stop Centre, Child Care Institution, Shakti Sadan, Women Helpline etc remained available  to  assist  women  and  children  including  single  women  household  during Covid-19  pandemic  for  providing  relief  and  rehabilitation  services  through  basic amenities/  needs  such  as  supplementary  nutrition,  shelter,  food,  clothing,  medical treatment including counselling, legal aid, vocational training etc. During Covid, Take Home Ration was provided by Anganwadi Workers/ Helpers to all children in the age group 6 months to 6 years; Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM); and out of School Adolescent Girls at their homes every fortnight to ensure that Children and PW&LM do not suffer from malnutrition.

(d)  and  (e):  The  National  Commission  for  Protection  of  Child  Rights  (NCPCR)  is mandated to monitor the implementation of The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

NCPCR conducted  a  nationwide  rescue  campaign  targeting  child  and  adolescent labour.  This  operation  focused  on  various  labour-prone  areas,  including  factories, dhabas, industries, hotels, and construction sites. The campaign ensured compliance with the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.

Further, Ministry of Labour and Employment has taken various measures to prevent  Child  Labour  which  include  legislative  measures  providing  right  to  free education  and  general  socio-economic  development.  The  details  of  statutory  and legislative measures, rehabilitation strategy are as under:

- i. The Child and Adolescent Labour(Prohibition & Regulation) (CALPR) Act, 1986 interalia covers complete prohibition of work  or employment of children below 14 years of age in any occupation or process and prohibition of adolescents in the age group of 14 to 18 years in hazardous occupations and processes. It also provides for stricter punishment for employers for violation of the Act and the offence has been made as cognizable.
- ii.         Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Rules, 1988 interalia,  provide  for  District  Nodal  Officer(DNO)  and  Task  Force  at  district  level  under chairpersonship  of  District  Magistrate  to  ensure  that  the  provisions  of  the  Act  are implemented properly.

iii.         Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  has  developed  an  online  portal  PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement of No Child Labour) for effective enforcement of CALPR  Act.  The  portal  has  also  a  complaint  corner  for  registering  the  complaint regarding child labour.

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