The Bengal government will provide a monthly aid of Rs 2,000 to all children who have become orphans owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ananya Chakraborti Chatterjee, the chairperson of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR), who was here on Saturday, said: “Data indicates so far around 3,400 children have become orphans in the state because of the pandemic. It has been decided that each will get Rs 2,000 as monthly assistance. We are taking steps to ensure they can continue with their studies and are properly taken care of by their relatives.”
Among these, some have lost both parents to the pandemic. Others had lost one parent earlier and the other died owing to Covid-19.
The WBCPCR, sources said, is hastening the process of conferring legal guardianship on relatives with whom the children are staying. Respective child welfare committees and district child protection departments will monitor the progress of these children and see to it that they are being well looked after by relatives.