499 kids lose 1 parent, 19 both to Covid in Raigad; dist to fund edu

NAVI MUMBAI: For Mhatre (name changed) siblings, aged 17, 13 and nine, from a village in Mhasla Taluka, their lives took a U-turn four years back when their father died by suicide. Since then, their mother took care of them. But in May 2020, their lives again turned upside down when their mother passed away due to Covid.

After learning that the three siblings – two girls and one boy – became orphans during Covid, the Women and Child Welfare Committee of Raigad visited their house only to realise that the grandmother was incapable of looking after the three kids. Since then, the kids are being taken care of at SOS Children’s village in Alibag.

A survey by district administration had identified 499 children who lost one parent to Covid, and 19 children who lost both parents to the virus.

“Their expenses and schooling, everything is being looked after by us. We found 19 children – 11 girls and 8 boys – who became orphans during the Covid period. Of these 19, three (Mhatre siblings) are in the shelter home while the others are with their relatives,” district woman and child development officer, Ashok Patil, said.

Similarly 16-year-old Priya (name changed) and her 21-yearold brother from Roha became orphans in a period of eight days in May after Covid claimed the lives of their parents. Priya was traumatised and depressed.

“While her brother was emotionally stable, Priya had slipped into depression. They went to a relative’s house in Thane. Our departmental counsellor took various counselling sessions and helped her come out of the depression. She has now taken admission for Class 12 Science stream,” Patil added.

The children who are being taken care of by the relatives would be given ₹1,100 every month. All the 19 children will also get a ₹5 lakh FD, which will be matured when they turn 21. “A joint bank account with every child has been opened at Bank of Maharashtra, Alibag branch. The joint account is with the District Women and Child Development Officer. We are expecting to receive the funds in the next 10 days,” Patil said.