Indian government contradicts Lancet article on orphaned children due to Covid-19 in India

An article published in a science journal has said that more than 19 lakh children in India lost their primary caregivers including their parents due to Covid-19 in India.

The government of India has contradicted the report and said that the facts mentioned in the article are far away from the ground realities.

“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 and contrary to field data in this regard. Lancet has reported that more than 19 Lakh children have lost their primary caregivers due to covid in India,” Ministry of Women and Child Development said in a press statement.

It added, “There is no doubt that the researchers have used sophisticated methodology to estimate the numbers about children, who have lost their primary caregivers, but these findings have no correlation with ground reality in India as reflected from field findings. As per field data coming from the States/UTs and being compiled as per the directions and monitoring of Hon’ble SC, the numbers for India are about 1.53 Lakhs.”

It further said that Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in SMWP no. 4/2021 had directed all the States/UTs to identify each and every child who has lost one or more of their parents or have been abandoned during Covid due to any reason (Covid or otherwise) during the pandemic period.

“The loss of parent could have been due to Covid, natural, unnatural, or from any other cause during the period of pandemic. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) furtherance to its function as a monitoring authority under section 109 of the Juvenile Justice Act, was asked to set up a portal called “Bal Swaraj” where this data has to be uploaded. Accordingly, NCPCR has been continuously tracking all the children who have lost their parents (either one or both) due to any reason and children who have been abandoned since 1st April, 2020.”

The Ministry further added, “The data/information of each child is captured, verified and examined so as to extend proper care, protection and benefits to all such children. So far, 1,53,827 children have been registered on the portal including 1,42,949 children with single parent, 492 abandoned children and 10,386 children who have lost both their parents. Annexure-I shows State/UT wise breakup of these figures as on 15th February, 2022.”