Pathetic condition for three children of family; orphaned, but no compensation

Kakinada: The plight of the three children of a family of Z. Medapadu village who were orphaned after their mother died of Covid-19 has become more miserable. They are denied the Rs.10 lakh compensation that is on offer to each orphaned child under a state government scheme. The father had deserted the family long ago. The village is in Mandapeta Rural mandal of East Godavari district.

The claims of the three children were rejected by the government citing technical issues and officials say they are not to be treated as fully orphaned.

A 13-year-old boy and his twin sister, as also his 9-year-old sister, find themselves in a pathetic situation. Their father Lavanya Kumar had deserted them nine years ago. A single woman pension had been sanctioned to the mother Anantha Kumari. But she died of Covid-19 in the second wave before taking her first pension.

The three children are now being looked after by their 66-year-old grandmother who is unable to do any work. If these children should get the Rs.10 lakh compensation to each of them, they should produce their father’s death certificate too. Otherwise, they are not eligible for the claim, as per procedural guidelines.

Now the burden of these three children and their grandmother falls on their maternal aunt. She has to look after her family members and also the three orphans. “It is difficult for her to do this as she is a casual worker. Officials should use their discretionary powers and sanction the ex-gratia amount to the three children,” said an activist woman. She said Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was helping people and said she hoped help would be extended to the three children too.

It is learnt that more such cases exist in the district and officials are waiting for the government’s word. Meanwhile, ICDS officials said efforts are being made to help such family members.