Establishing Child Care Centre for orphan children due to COVID-19 in Nagpur, Maharashtra

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated families across India, has left thousands of children orphaned or without one parent.

Since the start of the pandemic, more than 1,700 children have lost both parents, while 140 have been abandoned and more than 7,400 have lost one of their parents to the virus, according to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). "The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a child rights crisis. Today in India, children are losing parents and caregivers to the virus, leaving them extremely vulnerable and without parental care.

Though the pandemic has taken huge toll all over the country yet some parts of the country are majorly affected among which Maharashtra is one of them. The pandemic has swiped the country and no one has left untouched without its impact including children. The deadly virus in Nagpur city made 49 children orphan and approximately more than eleven hundred children have lost their one parent. 

Nearly every state offers programs to support families in which a child has lost one parent. Most of those programs are designed to support the single parent and their children and provide cash transfers and entitlements under different government schemes. "Those eligible for these benefits have shared their experiences of running from pillar to post to submit an endless list of documents," as per a news article. In view of earning the livelihood many of them have started working unconditionally for any sort of work. Many among them are minors. Hence, to overcome this situation we at Sahyadri Foundation has decided to extend our efforts with the help of our efficient team and open a rehabilitation centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra in order to take care of the well-being of the children who lost their parents due to COVID-19.

In order to reduce the distress in the children the project Establishing child care Centre for orphan children due to COVID-19 in Nagpur, Maharshtra will provide all the above mentioned facilities. 

firstly identification of the children through outreach and surveys will be conducted.

Simultaneously their specific needs and requirements would be documented.

According to the number of children identified all the arrangements of the basic necessities (beds, no. of fans, no. of toilets to be built etc.) will be done.

Four time nutritious meal will be provided to the children.

Arrangements will be made for the entertainment which will include television, indoor games and outdoor activities.

There would be regular visit of child psychologists and counsellors who would visit the facilities and interact with the children.

Qualified teachers to teach children.

A 24*7 care taker will be present at the centre.

Periodic medical check-ups will be done by the doctor and appropriate treatment will be provided if required.

The children above 14 years of age will be given trainings in various works which would help them to earn their livelihood in future.

Our aim is to help the children to get a stable, loving, nurturing environment for their complete well-being.

To provide regular medical checkups.

To provide the basic necessities which include nutritious food, clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

To provide stable, loving and nurturing environment.

To provide Quality education.

Protection from abuse and neglect.

To provide counselling to overcome their grief of losing their parents.

To provide dignity and freedom

To provide monetary benefit to the child who has lost single parent.