The COVID-19 outbreak has led to massive destruction on the economy and the lives of the poor underprivileged people. The underprivileged children are the ones who are suffering the most as the pandemic’s outbreak has congested all the social activities. It has left people with no choice but to stay at their homes.
As the number of cases increases day-by-day, a major chunk of the population is unable to fulfill their basic needs. “They are not in a position to isolate or distance themselves and are deprived of food and essential safety measures. Many children relied on the meals that they used to get from schools or NGOs but since the lockdown has been imposed all around, everything has come to end for these children,” says Richa Prasant, Founder of Sunaayy Foundation.
The closure of schools may protect these children from the virus but the impact on them is going to be on their mind for a long run. “On one side these children don’t get the opportunity due to poverty but some of them who go in NGO’s education drive and Government schools.
Now they are losing out on their daily interactions with their other kids and teachers, and it will be long before they go back to school,” Prasant adds.
Due to closure of schools, learning is certainly going to be disrupted, more so for underprivileged children, who live in slums, whose parents are not literate. They dont have food to eat so how can we expect that they will have access to internet-based learning. In the current situation,there is no certainty as to when schools will resume; a prolonged gap is going to affect these children’s interest to go to schools.
The unprecedented lockdown has stung millions of poor children leaving them in a horrible situation. It is significant to take appropriate steps for all those children whose families cannot afford even basic facilities.