India is now on the verge of welcoming the fourth COVID-19 vaccine to beat the pandemic and though the nation can mitigate and battle the microscopic menace through the indigenous and foreign-made vaccines, it is in the state of fret that it can't subdue the pain, struggles, and ordeals endured by the citizens due to the pandemic. The most heart-wrenching news is the state of children who were orphaned by losing their parents. 

The younger generation and minors are left out with incessant grief and plight after losing their parents. A recent survey has revealed an anguishing story in the national capital region. Delhi, which is one of the worst-hit regions in India by the pandemic, now houses over 2000 children who had either lost one or both of their parents for the pandemic since it began in India. The revelation has showered more light on the state of children in the rest of the country who were hit by a similar ordeal. 

According to the Delhi Commission For Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), a total of 651 children lost their mothers, 1,311 children lost their fathers, and 67 of them had lost both their parents due to the COVID-19 viral infection. The Commission has also unveiled an all-day functional helpline number for citizens to report any such case or obtain any information concerning child rights. The helpline number is 9311551393. 

In an official statement, the Commission said it had been able to identify more than 2000 children who have lost either one or both their parents due to the pandemic. Of these, 67 children have lost both their parents while 651 children have lost their mothers and 1,311 have lost their fathers due to the viral infection. It has further said that it has used its helpline to conduct various well-being surveys and identification of children who have lost their parents due to the pandemic. 

The survey had also used the data provided by the Health Department of the Delhi government. DCPCR Chairman Anurag Kundu said that the helpline has enabled the commission to reach out to more children and their families in the last three months. According to PTI, he said, "It is just a humble beginning and the helpline has a long way to go to firmly establish itself as a useful and reliable medium." 

"Going by the current trend, the Commission will receive nearly 20,000 complaints in the ongoing year. This is nearly 1,300 per cent of the average of the past three years and is two-and-a-half times the complaints the Commission has received in twelve years", Kundu added. The commission has shared the details of these children with the Department of Women and Child Development for necessary action and to enrol the eligible beneficiaries in schemes notified by the Delhi government for children who have lost their parents due to the pandemic. 

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on May 14 said that his government would bear the cost of education of the children orphaned during the pandemic. The government has also planned to provide Rs 2,500 per month to such children as a relief. Earlier in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a number of welfare measures for such children, including a corpus of Rs 10 lakh when they turn 23 years of age.