Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

The estimates of Lancet recent study have highlighted that around 19 lakh children experienced orphanhood in India amid COVID-19.

The study postulates that two out of three orphans, who lost their primary caregiver, or one parent, due to COVID-19 are aged between 10 -17 years.

To which the government responded in a press statement that, ” the Ministry of Women and Child Development finds the Lancet article dated February 24, 2022 giving estimates of children affected by COVID – 19 associated orphanhood very surprising. These findings have no correlation with the ground reality in India as reflected from field findings.”

Study results indicate that the number of children affected by COVID-19 associated with orphanhood and death of caregivers, nearly doubled between 1st May 2021 and 31st October 2021, as compared to the initial 14 months of the pandemic in India.

From the data collected by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCRC) from all the states and union territories, the number of orphans in India during COVID-19 was 1.53 lakh, as mentioned by the ministry.

“So far, 1,53,827 children have been registered on the (Bal Swaraj) portal including 1,42,949 children with single parent, 492 abandoned children and 10,386 children who have lost both their parents,” said the ministry.

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