Second Wave of COVID-19: Many Children Orphaned, Left Vulnerable in India

New Delhi- As India battles with the second wave of COVID-19 with cases of this deadly infectious disease skyrocketing and spiraling out of control on a daily basis, the cases of children losing their parents to this fatal infection have seen an alarming spike. 

While many children have become orphans after losing both their parents to COVID-19, others have only one parent surviving who is not in the right psychological or financial position to cater to their well-being. 

There have been many such cases of vulnerable children reported from all over the country whose plight makes the reader's heart swell in agony. 

One such case has been reported from Kolkata, where a newborn baby lost both her parents and grandparents to the virus. The baby too tested positive yet survived. The newborn infant's relatives washed their hands off her refusing to take care of her until finally, the baby infant girl was taken in custody by her maternal grandparents who live in another town. 

Two children who were left without any support after the death of both their parents have been reported from the state of Karnataka by children welfare activists on Saturday. 

Another heartbreaking case was reported from the National capital where the police rescued two siblings who were on the verge of ending their lives after both their parents passed away due to COVID-19. 

"There are many cases in which both parents have died. What is important today is an institutional response to such cases. People are calling for adoption but a proper legal mechanism must be followed for the sake of the future and welfare of these children," said Sonal Kapoor, founder and director of Protsahan, an NGO working in about 50 slums in Uttam Nagar area in Delhi. 

As social media is circulating with several calls for the adoption of these vulnerable children, many activists and authorities like the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) have raised alarm over this by demanding a proper legal mechanism to be followed in the process of such adoption. 

DCPCR has urged people to not fall for misinformation on social media and advised the families interested to follow legal procedures for the adoption process. 

"Do not believe anyone who says he/she can give you the child for adoption. They are either lying or misleading or simply involved in illegal practices. Do reach out to your lawyer friends for advice," tweeted DCPCR chairperson Anurag Kundu. 

DCPCR also launched a helpline 91-9311551393 to cater to the needs of vulnerable children. 

The authorities have raised alarm saying that if the proper legal process is not followed, the vulnerable children may become subjected to child trafficking and fall prey to many other related illegal activities. 

The NCPCR also raised this issue to the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories, underlining the legal procures to be followed as per the Juvenile Justice Act. 

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