2,290 children lost one or both parents to COVID-19 in Maharashtra

2,290 children in Maharashtra lost one or both their parents to Covid, sources from the Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department said on Thursday. As per the data compiled based on the inputs given by the district task forces headed by collectors, 2,183 children lost one parent, and 107 lost both parents.

"The government has got custody of 10 out of the 107 children as there is nobody to look after them," they said.

The government had composed a 10-member task force in each of the 36 districts to identify children orphaned during the pandemic. The committee would also oversee arrangements for their shelter and supervise their adoption to ensure no trafficking and exploitation.

After receiving inputs that several were encouraging illegal adoption of children orphaned by COVID-19, the government also set up a helpline number to seek information about such children.