Covid-19: 42 children orphaned in Karnataka

Bengaluru: As many as 42 children were orphaned by the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

The children are from 19 different districts of the state and are currently with their close relatives.

Out of 42, four children were orphaned in Raichur and three each in Bagalkot, Bidar, Chikkaballapur, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Kodagu, and Kolar districts.

Bengaluru Urban, along with Belagavi, Ramanagara, Gadag, and Hassan had two cases each. Nine districts had one case each, while no cases were reported in 11 districts, according to data compiled by the government till June 10.

Earlier, the state government had announced the ‘Chief Minister’s Bala Seva Scheme’ under which children orphaned due to Covid-19 will be offered financial assistance of Rs 3,500 per month.

The amount will be debited to the caretaker of the child. The government has also offered free education, and laptops for these children who have passed the 10th standard, apart from other initiatives.

Measures are being taken to extend the facilities announced by the government for them.