Several Indian states have announced support initiatives for children who have lost parents to COVID-19, including: 1) Delhi will provide Rs 2,500 per month and cover education expenses until age 25. 2) Karnataka will identify close relatives for interim care or pursue adoption. 3) States like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Odisha and Gujarat will provide financial assistance, free education, pensions or deposits.

1. State government initiatives for children who have lost one or both parents to COVID
State Response Children
who
have
lost both
parents
or
guardian
Children
who
have
lost both
parents
or
guardian
Delhi1
Children who have lost both their parents to COVID-19 will get an aid of Rs
2,500 per month till they turn 25 years old, and expenses for their
education will be borne by the Delhi government
Karnataka2
Interim/immediate care
Karnataka has decided to identify a close relative of the affected child as a
“fit person” under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)
Act, 2015, to hand over the child for care on a temporary basis. This is
being done to ensure a family atmosphere for the child
Long term care
The government will facilitate an adoption process among blood relatives
or close relatives in the family, as per the norms under the Adoption
Regulations, 2017. If no relative comes forward, the child/children would be
given up for adoption through CARINGS and as per the regulations under
the Juvenile Justice Act and the Adoption Regulations.
Jammu and
Kashmir3
Special scholarships for kids who lost their parents to the pandemic.
Chhattisgarh Under the ‘Chhattisgarh Mahtari Dular Yojna’, the Chhattisgarh government
will be bearing the cost of educating children who have lost their parents to
COVID-19.
Madhya
Pradesh4
The State government will provide aid worth Rs 5,000 per month to
children orphaned due to COVID-19 and also provide free education and
ration to them.
250 1200
Andhra
Pradesh5
Fixed deposit accounts worth Rs 10 lakh for children orphaned by the
coronavirus pandemic. Government officials have been directed to
collaborate with banks and work out a financial package that would provide
a steady income to the children till they are 25 years of age.
135 1716
Jharkhand6
The Jharkhand government has announced that it will rehabilitate children
orphaned by COVID-19 and also guaranteed financial assistance to the
caretakers
Rajasthan7
Compilation of a list of children who have lost parents to COVID and
enabling their linkage to Palanhar Yojana
17
Punjab8
Students who have lost their parents or families who have lost earning
members to the pandemic will be offered free education up to graduation
level
Apart from free education to students orphaned due to the Covid-19
pandemic, families who have lost their breadwinners will also be provided
with Rs. 1500 as a monthly social security pension, to handle their monthly
expenses and pay for necessities.
Odisha9
Free education for children whose parents died due to COVID
1 https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/covid-19-initiatives-announced-by-state-govts-for-children-who-lost-both-parents-to-pandemic-6908451.html
2 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/govt-plans-protection-of-children-who-have-lost-parents-owing-to-pandemic/article34587132.ece
3 https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/covid-19-initiatives-announced-by-state-govts-for-children-who-lost-both-parents-to-pandemic-6908451.html
4 https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/covid-19-initiatives-announced-by-state-govts-for-children-who-lost-both-parents-to-pandemic-6908451.html
5 https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/covid-19-initiatives-announced-by-state-govts-for-children-who-lost-both-parents-to-pandemic-6908451.html
6 https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/covid-19-initiatives-announced-by-state-govts-for-children-who-lost-both-parents-to-pandemic-6908451.html
7 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/rajasthan-govt-to-look-after-kids-orphaned-during-pandemic/articleshow/82729144.cms
8 https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/punjab-govt-offers-free-education-to-children-orphaned-due-to-covid-19-1805169-2021-05-21

2. Gujarat10
Children who have been orphaned by Covid-19 will get monthly assistance
of Rs 4,000 till they turn 18 years old.
9 https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/odisha-govt-announces-free-education-for-children-who-lost-parents-due-to-covid-19-1803698-2021-05-
17
10
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-children-orphaned-by-covid-19-to-get-aid/articleshow/82623580.cms