Rise in distress calls to child helpline as Covid cases, fatalities rise

NEW DELHI: After losing their parents to Covid-19 on Friday, two siblings, aged 20 and 18, attempted to take their lives on the same day but the timely intervention of the neighbours, who alerted police, saved them. They were later rescued from south Delhi.

A day earlier, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) helped a 15-year-old boy, who was struggling to take care of his mother after she tested positive for Covid-19.

Amid a rise in both Covid-19 cases and fatalities, authorities, including the DCPCR, the Delhi Police, and several NGOS, are now working to ensure children of deceased patients and those who are ill are getting all the assistance they need. Officials said the child distress helpline is receiving many calls from children seeking help.

The DCPCR has also launched a helpline +91-9311551393 to help those children who have lost their parents to Covid-19 or are hospitalised or in any distress.

Anurag Kundu, chairperson of DCPCR, said he will ensure that the calls pouring into the helpline are looked into within 24 hours. “The helpline is receiving numerous cases wherein a child has lost all sources of support and is in need of immediate care. The Commission is committed to resolving all such cases in less than 24 hours,” said Kundu.

For instance, after two children lost both their parents within a day, the commission coordinated with NGOS, following which local staff interacted with the duo and counselled them. “The relatives and neighbours are taking care of the children now. The Commission has been checking in on them everyday,” read a statement released by the commission.

In another case, a 14-year-old child lost all his family members to Covid-19 and has been in home isolation after testing positive for the infection with no one to look after him. After receiving SOS messages on social media, the commission provided assistance to the child.

Sonal Kapoor, founder of Protsahan, said the most important thing is to work on closure for such children. “We aren’t taught how to deal with emotions involving grief, trauma, and death. The challenge is to establish a routine in a child’s life. While government agencies can put children in shelter homes and provide essentials, the focus should also be on their psycho-social needs,” she said.