9855 Children Orphaned, 132113 Lost Either Parent & 508 Children Abandoned During COVID: NCPCR Tells Supreme Court

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has told the Supreme Court that as per the data uploaded on the Baal Swaraj Portal- CoVID care from April 2020 onwards upto December 7, 2021, 9855 children are orphaned, 1,32,113 children have lost either parent and 508 children are abandoned.

The additional affidavit has been filed by NCPCR in compliance of Top Court's directions with regards to the status of children on the basis of the data uploaded on Baal Swaraj Portal in the suo moto matter pertaining to the children in need of care and protection, who have lost their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its affidavit submitted before the Top Court, NCPCR has stated that in its affidavit dated October 10, 2021, NCPCR had analysed data of children of 19 States and UT's that was available on the Baal Swaraj Portal and where the child details/information had been uploaded.

"A total of 7499 letters to the district authorities for completion of incomplete data for removing discrepancies of the portal of the children. The Commission in the said letters based on the individual child care plan of the child had made its recommendations to the district authorities for linking the child and his/her family with the schemes/ benefits as well so that timely financial assistance is also provided to the child and the family," the affidavit states.

Further in this regards, NCPCR has submitted that in response to the letter received by the States upto December 8, 2021 action taken reports have been submitted only from 10 States/ Union Territories and that it has not received any action taken report from other states/UT's (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Mizoram, Maharashtra and West Bengal).

NCPCR in its affidavit has presented a State Wise data regarding children upto December 7, 2021 who have lost either mother or father or both parents after April 1, 2020 irrespective of their reason of death (not only death due to CoVID 19).

The affidavit has been drawn by Advocate Swarupama Chaturvedi.

Case Title: In RE Contagion Of The CoVID 19 Virus In Children Protection Homes| Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) 4 of 2020