Observing that identification of children who have become orphans or lost a parent either due to Covid-19 or otherwise does not brook any further delay, the Supreme Court Tuesday directed the State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) to file status reports giving particulars about the number of children who have become orphans after March 2020.
The top court said there is a need to ensure the schemes meant for orphans reach the real beneficiaries and not just remain on paper.
A Bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose directed the the District Magistartes to issue necessary instructions to the district child protection officers to take assistance of the police, civil society, gram panchayats, anganwadi and ASHA workers for identification of orphans.
The apex court said this is in addition to mechanisms available in Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and rules.
“The identification of children who have lost both parents or one parent after March 2020 does not brook any further delay,” the bench said.
The Bench also clarified that its order covers all children who became orphans during this period due to Covid or otherwise.
“What we are thinking is to take care of all children who have been orphaned whether Covid or not
Covid. We cannot restrict the orders passed to only orphans who lost both parents to COVID-19”, Justice Rao said.
The Bench said District Magistrates are directed to continue uploading the information on Bal Swaraj portal of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
Child welfare committees are directed to complete the inquiry within the time limit specified under Act and provide assistance and rehabilitation to orphans, the bench added.
“All State Governments, UTs are directed to file status reports giving particulars giving the number of children who have become orphan after March 2020. The number of children produced before the child welfare committee and their particular who have been provided with benefits of the schemes by the state governments,” the bench said.
It also directed the states to provide details regarding payment of `2,000 monetary assistance given to needy orphans under the Integrated Child Development Services scheme.