Supreme Court gives govt more time to work out modalities on scheme for orphans

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 7

The Supreme Court on Monday gave more time to work out the modalities for the implementation of recently launched ‘PM-Cares for Children’ scheme for those orphaned by Covid-19.

A Bench, headed by Justices LN Rao, agreed to take up the matter post-summer vacation after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said the Centre needed more time as it was in consultation with various states and ministries to finalise the modalities of the ‘PM-Cares for Children’ scheme.

Talking about the scheme, Bhati said, “We have made district magistrates directly responsible for the children who have been abandoned or have been orphaned.”

The Bench pulled up the West Bengal Government after the National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said West Bengal was not cooperating in furnishing the latest data on the number of children who have lost their parents due to Covid.

“We said gather information pertaining to children orphaned after March 2020, and include CNCPs (Children in Need of Care and Protection) also. All other states have understood it properly and have uploaded the information, how is it that only West Bengal doesn’t understand the order. Don’t take refuge under confusion. All other States have provided it, there is confusion only for West Bengal? “ the Bench told West Bengal Government counsel.

On behalf of the NCPCR, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj said the commission was facing difficulties with West Bengal and Delhi which were not uploading the data of such children on ‘Bal Swaraj’ portal. The top court also asked the Delhi Government to upload the updated information on the NCPCR’s website. The Supreme Court had on Tuesday asked the Centre to provide details of schemes announced for children who lost their parents to Covid along with monitoring mechanisms.