The Karnataka government has started collecting data on children who have lost their parents to Covid-19 or if their parents are hospitalised. The state government has decided to rehabilitate these children up to the age of 18 years orphaned by the second wave of coronavirus and set up special pediatric COVID care centres in 30 districts of the state.
The Woman and Child Welfare Minister Shashikala Jolle’s statement reads: ''The government is ready to rehabilitate children who were orphaned by the second wave of COVID-19. Children need not be afraid as we have decided to set up separate quarantine facilities as well as hostels for those up to 18 years,''
Jolle said the government has set up a helpline '1098' and a senior IAS officer Mohan Raj has been appointed as nodal officer to ensure that such children are taken care of.
It was told that the department has identified four circumstances where children are deprived of parental care and require the department's intervention. These are, if father and mother die of COVID, if both father and mother are hospitalised, if any one of them dies of COVID or if one is dead and another lives in a different area.
These are establishing separate Pediatric COVID care centres in 30 districts for the asymptomatic and special care for children with mild to moderate symptoms.
She also said steps have been taken for the distribution of special nutritious food to households of Anganwadi beneficiaries and special care to Anganwadi children, pregnant and postnatal care of mothers.
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