Odisha Launches 24×7 Helpline To Rehabilitate COVID-19 Orphans

Bhubaneswar: The Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti department has launched 24×7 helpline to provide emergency service and counselling for children either orphaned due to COVID-19 or those whose parents are hospitalised for the infection.

Principal Secretary to WCD department Anu Garg has written to district-level officers in this connection on Thursday. The department has issued dedicated helpline 1098, OSCPSR helpline 1800-345-4494 and State COVID helpline 104 for immediate tracking of children in vulnerable situations.

Three special helpdesks have been formed to source information on the orphans who are under stress following corona deaths or hospitalisation in the family.

“Any person coming across children below the age of 18 who have been orphaned or have parents who have been under treatment in COVID hospitals or in isolation may contact the helpline numbers or get in touch with Child Protection Officer for immediate rescuing of these children,” said Garg.

On receiving the information, the child concerned would be rehabilitated in child care centres in a given district and they will undergo proper care, health check up as well as regular counselling.

The department has so far identified 4 vulnerable children and kept them in child care institutions (CCIs).