DMs to be guardians of Covid-hit children: Centre to states

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 3

The government on Thursday said district magistrates will be the guardians of Covid affected children for purposes of entitlements and support under Centre’s and state schemes and other benefits.

In a letter to women and child development secretaries of states, the union WCD secretary government today sought urgent profiling of children who have lost both or one parent and families to Covid and keep the information secure as required by the Juvenile Justice Act provisions.

“District Magistrate shall be the guardian of vulnerable children impacted adversely by Covid. District Magistrates need to secure the rights of the children on family assets and ancestral properties and ensure these are not sold or encroached upon. It should be done through proper oversight maintained by the registration and revenue department,” union secretary Ram Mohan Mishra said in his letter.

The DM will make efforts that such children are rehabilitated in the following order of preference as per the JJ Act, 2015 – restored with extended family, kith and kin of the child; placed in adoption in case the child is found legally free for adoption by a Child Welfare Committee through the Central Adoption Resource Authority portal; under government approved Child Care Institutions,” the Centre told states.

Every DM has been asked to create a district level multi-departmental taskforce to map the needs, monitor progress and ensure that all benefits reach affected children.

The Centre has further advised states to identify children in distress through outreach and survey and create a database specifying the needs and requirements of children.

Ensure that the data of every child is uploaded on Track Child Portal of Government of India, the letter says.

The government also asked states to ensure the local police are alerted to prevent crimes against children including child labour, child marriage, trafficking and illegal adoptions.

The WCD Ministry further asked states to ensure all of India’s nearly 7000 child care institutions are in good shape to host vulnerable children.

The letter directs states to ensure that all the orphan children are provided free education through government Day schools or residential schools.

“Based on the specific need of the child, they can be enrolled in the nearest private schools under Section RTE section 12(1)©. Efforts may be made to include eligible orphan children under existing scholarship schemes of the Centre and states,” the government said.

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