Children orphaned during Covid-19 should be covered under Centre's welfare schemes: SC

New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that the Centre's welfare schemes should cover all children who became orphans after the outbreak of COVID-19 and not only those who got orphaned due to the pandemic.

A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose observed this while hearing a suo motu case regarding the condition of children in institutionalised care during the pandemic.

The top court said the schemes such as the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund(PM CARES Fund), should cover all children who became orphans during the outbreak of Coronavirus.

The Centre informed the apex court that the PM CARES scheme covers children who have lost both parents, or the lone surviving parent or the legal guardian, or the adoptive parent.

In response, the bench clarified that it was not asking to extend the scheme under the PM CARES to all orphans but was highlighting the need to protect all such children.(UNI)