Provide immediate assistance to children orphaned by Covid-19-
Collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh.
Pune: For children who have lost both their parents due to Covid-19, give priority to take necessary action to get help as soon as possible. For this, additional manpower should be provided for opening bank accounts, completing home checks etc. These works should be completed within a week, said District Collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh.
Dr Deshmukh chaired a meeting of the District Working Group for the Care and Protection of Children on the backdrop of Covid-19. The meeting was attended by Ajay Charathankar, Deputy Commissioner, Pune Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Param Anand, Coordinator, Action Force and District Child Protection Cell, Nilkanth Kale, District Probation Officer, District Women and Child Development Officer’s Office.
The district has so far found 70 children who have lost both parents. Out of these, 43 children’s bank accounts have been opened and a fixed deposit of Rs 5 lakh each has been made in the accounts of 19 children, it was informed in the meeting. District Collector Dr Deshmukh was instructed me to complete the work within the next 15 days by collecting information on all the remaining children, sorting out parenting issues and opening bank accounts.
Covid has reported a total of 2,647 children who have lost one parent, as well as both parents. There is a lot of work to be done on Covid Orphan Portal, PM Care Portal, NCR Portal and this work should be completed immediately with additional manpower. The information of these children has to be obtained through a home investigation. For this, the women and child development department, child protection officer and child development project officer of that taluka should undertake a special campaign and complete the investigation.
The benefit of the child care scheme should be given priority by undertaking a special campaign. Women who have lost both parents, as well as children who have lost one parent, widows who have lost their husbands due to covid, should be given priority to avail the benefits of the existing schemes of the government so that they can get immediate help, he added. Deshmukh handed over to the officers. He said that instructions have been given to all tehsildars to provide benefits of Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and other schemes to eligible women and so far about 170 women have been given the benefit of Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana.
At this time Mr Charathankar was informed about the action taken. Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has undertaken a special program to provide employment to widowed women. Accordingly, these women are being imparted various skill development training along with Symbiosis. He also said that coordination has been made with various industries and accordingly, job seekers will be provided jobs and other women will be provided self-employment. The District Collector suggested that such activities should be considered in other places as well.
