The state government, about a month after the second wave of Covid subsided has identified 117 children who lost both their parents due to the pandemic since March 2020.

Bengaluru Urban and Chikkaballpur districts have the most number of orphans with 12 children each. Bengaluru Rural, Udupi and Uttara Kannada – no orphans have been identified.

Women and Child Development Minister Halappa Achar said the process of identifying the orphans was ongoing and basic relief amount is transferred to the bank account of 110 of total 117 children under Chief Minister’s Bala Seva Scheme.
The remaining applications are under process. One or two cases are pending for approval in district-level committees.

The scheme was launched by former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in last May with a slew of measures to help the orphaned children. Under the scheme, children below 10 years will receive financial assistance of Rs 3,500 per month and who passed Class 10 were offered laptops. Women above 21 years were assured a one-time financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh under the scheme.