Is there any scheme for orphans?
28 Aug, 2012In a reply to an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Department of Women and Child development of Maharashtra has said that the government does not have schemes for orphans. The reply tells that there are only four After Care Centres for boys with a total capacity of 210 while no such centre for girls exists.
It was claimed before a division bench of justice B S Chauhan and justice Swatanter Kumar of the Supreme Court that the Union and the state governments have not initiated any scheme to provide basic facilities to the orphans. The states have not made provisions to meet the college education, give concession in fees or provide free education, scholarships or employment to the orphans. There is no reservation for orphans and they are deprived of basic documents like ration cards, domicile certificates, election cards and below poverty line certificates.
On the plight of orphans, a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court which, after hearing the plea, has issued notice to the governments at the Centre, the States and the Union territories to file their reply about the problems and conditions of the orphans.
There are nearly 21 lakh orphans and destitute in India.