The Maharashtra government on Tuesday, May 4, announced that a special cell has been set up to protect the children who have been orphaned due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In an official statement, the state Women and Child Development department said that several reports have been doing rounds regarding anti-social elements trying to take advantage of such children.
It also mentioned that there were reports of such children being adopted illegally, even for human trafficking purposes.
The department has urged people to remain alert of any such case around them and has asked them to call on special helpline 1098 or the State Adoption Resource Agency to alert authorities in case they come across such incidents.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray had suggested that a network of creches be set up across the state for children whose parents might have tested positive for the virus or might be at a COVID care centre and have no one to look after the little ones.
In addition, Bollywood actress Dia Mirza too had shared a list of helpline numbers on her social media handle and called it alarming how people are asking others to adopt kids they have found.
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