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What is the News?
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR) has informed the Supreme Court that nearly 10,000 children need immediate care and protection due to the impact of Covid-19.
What was the case?
- The Supreme Court of India has taken up a suo motu petition to examine ways to protect children. Especially those who have suffered personal loss and trauma due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- During the hearing, the Court had asked the states and Union Territories to upload data on the number of affected children since March 2020 on the ‘Bal Swaraj’ portal of NCPCR.
- Moreover, the Court had also asked NCPCR to provide the statistics on the received information to the court.
What information did NCPCR provide to the Supreme Court?
- Data: The NCPCR has informed the Court that a total of 1,742 children were orphaned, 140 abandoned and 7,464 children have lost one parent because of the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020.
- Age-Wise data: The children aged between eight and 13 form the highest age bracket who are in dire need of help.
- States: Among States, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of children in need of protection. This was followed by Bihar and Kerala.
- Concerns: These children if help is not provided then have a high risk of being pushed into trafficking and flesh trade.
About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR):
- NCPCR is a statutory body established in 2007 under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act (CPCR), 2005.
- Nodal Ministry: It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development.
- Mandate: To ensure all laws, policies, programmes, and administrative mechanisms are in accordance with the child rights perspective. As put forward in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
About Bal Swaraj Portal:
- It was launched by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
- Purpose: The portal has been created with a purpose for online tracking and digital real-time monitoring mechanism of children who are in need of care and protection.
- Bal Swaraj Covid-Care: The Commission has extended the use of this portal for tracking children who have lost both their parents or either of the parents during COVID-19.
- It has provided a link under the name of “COVID-Care” for uploading data of such children by the concerned department on the portal.
Source: The Hindu
