Pandemic havoc: More than three thousand children were orphaned in India, difficulty in collecting death certificates of parents

Sonali with her younger brother and sister in Pattapur, Orissa.

Sonali Reddy cooks and feeds her younger siblings in a small but brightly colored house in Pattapur village on the east coast of India. At night she sleeps by singing lullabies. She thinks that by being pampered like a mother, she will be able to pacify their feelings. Sonali, 14, is playing the role of the family’s foster parent. A few years back his father committed suicide after incurring losses in business. His mother died of infection in May amid a devastating wave of the coronavirus.

Sonali is among more than three thousand children who have become orphans (according to state governments) in the pandemic. A mountain of troubles has broken in front of many of these children. The state governments have given 500 rupees for every orphan child. 5000 to Rs. Assistance has been announced every month. The system of free food and education is different. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised a life of dignity and good opportunities for children.

But lawyers and activists fear that orphans will be victims of neglect and exploitation when public attention is diverted. Distressed children are finding it difficult to collect death certificates to get government assistance. It will be difficult for some children to return to school.

On the other hand, Sonali’s grandmother has come to live with the children in Pattapur. Sonali says, Mother had kept us all safe from all the difficulties. Looks like they are still with us. Meanwhile, the government has paid the orphan pension to the children. Bank accounts have been opened in his name. He has also been given several sacks of rice. The condition of 13-year-old Satwik Reddy in Hyderabad city, hundreds of kilometers from Pattapur, is also similar to that of Sonali. Her three-year-old sister Hanvi asks about mommy, daddy. Satwik’s father Gopal, mother Geeta and grandmother died one after the other from the virus in May.

The story of 18-year-old Chavez Saifi and his younger sister Kahkashan in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh is also shrouded in tears and sorrow. Chavez’s parents- Shabnam and Shamshad fell ill in April. He did not have enough money to get treatment. A few days later the parents died. Chavez worked with his father at the construction site. Chavez had to vacate the house due to non-payment of rent. Now uncle helps him. He wants to teach Kahkashan. Many orphaned children like Sonali of Pattapur, Satwik of Hyderabad and Chavez of Muradnagar are struggling with difficulties.

India has the largest number of child brides in the world
Many orphans from poor families living in remote areas are at risk of being sold and their child marriages. Child trafficking is rampant in the country. According to UNICEF, India has the largest number of girl brides in the world. The choice of children to be adopted is also difficult due to certain societal perceptions. Medha Pandey, a law student at Delhi University, who writes on social issues emerging from the pandemic, says the government is trying to save the image amid the horrific tragedy in the country. The government has formed a small subgroup for children in distress.