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A Review meeting was called by the Supreme Court Juvenile Justice Committee (SCJJC) in coordination with the UNICEF, presided by Hon’ble Justice S Ravindra Bhat, Chairperson SSJC, Members of the Committee and Representatives of the Union and State Governments to deliberate on measures to provide better child care, protection and ensure the well-being of children during present wave of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Earlier, during the Court proceedings before a bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah, Court had highlighted the susceptibility of Children being affected largely by the third wave.

The meeting was joined by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Officials from Social Welfare Department, Health Department of various States and Union Territories.

Observations and Recommendations made;

1. Justice Ravindra Bhat, Judge Supreme Court and Chair of the Supreme Court SSJC:

• Emphasized the need to step up the measures to ensure better care, protection and well-being of the children during the second wave of COVID-19 making special mention of Children who have lost their either or both parents to the deadly pandemic; “These children are more vulnerable now than ever before. Concerted efforts should be made by all the key stakeholders to ensure the care and protection of children during the second wave of COVID.”
• Stated to develop a mechanism to address interim care, needs of orphan, separated or unaccompanied children, including clear guidance on steps to be taken where such child has been exposed or has symptoms of the virus and requires a period of isolation and treatment.
• Further emphasized that care givers and employees of care institutions, both government managed and private should be vaccinated as frontline professionals and that the services of these institutions should be declared as essential services.

During the meeting, Judges of all HCs and officials of various States and UTs presented the ongoing mechanism adopted, such as, setting up a state-level nodal officers and district task force for rapid response on Child care and protection, sponsorship for children who lost their parent/s or the bread earners who lost income/ are facing economic hardship.

High Court juvenile justice committees represented by judges also highlighted the measures taken up to stop the spread of COVID 19 in child care institutions and the medical treatment accorded to the children who have contracted the disease.

2. Ms. Aastha Khatwani, Joint Secretary, Ministry of W&CD, Government Of India:

• “Considering the emergency need, Ministry has issued the advisory to stop illegal adoption and care and protection of the children who have lost one either or both the parents to COVID”, apprised Ms. Khatwani.
• Ministry has developed clear, coordinated, community messaging on child unique vulnerabilities/risks specific to COVID 19, disseminated widely through social media and other channels.

3. Ms. Vandhana Kandhari, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF:

• Efforts to pre-emptively scale up the capacity of family-based care and social protection systems are critical to enhance family resilience.
• Ms. Kandhari further added, “In order to provide interim care to the children, extended family members, trusted friends, good neighbours and or community members can be declared fit person.”

Key Priorities Outlined By Hon’ble Justice Bhat;

1. Screening/testing and medical care for the children in the Institutional care.
2. Provision of emergency medicine, supplies, emergency access to hospitals, etc. and a roster of doctors available for Tele-consultation for reach CCIs to be planned.
3. Vaccination of all staff working in the Child Care Institutions and other frontline Child Protection workers to be taken up on priority basis.
4. Nomination of State/District level nodal officers empowered to take decisions in the matters of child emergency was also highlighted.
5. With respect to the needs of orphaned children; co-ordinated response, in each district, by a committee comprised of nodal officer (including the DM or SDM), a representative of the concerned CWC and the District Legal Service Authority, to ensure temporary foster homes as well as all information relating to the deceased parent/s, for future use should be set up. Each district CWC should compile all the details of such children and their needs.