Wayanad landslide: Orphaned children rebuild their lives under care of kin and state
Wayanad: Seven children who lost both parents in the Chooralmala-Mundakkai landslide on July 30 are now rebuilding their lives under the care of immediate relatives and the Wayanad District Child Protection Unit. According to official data, two of the seven children were nearing adulthood at the
Wayanad: Seven children who lost both parents in the Chooralmala-Mundakkai landslide on July 30 are now rebuilding their lives under the care of immediate relatives and the Wayanad District Child Protection Unit. According to official data, two of the seven children were nearing adulthood at the
Wayanad: Seven children who lost both parents in the Chooralmala-Mundakkai landslide on July 30 are now rebuilding their lives under the care of immediate relatives and the Wayanad District Child Protection Unit. According to official data, two of the seven children were nearing adulthood at the
Wayanad: Seven children who lost both parents in the Chooralmala-Mundakkai landslide on July 30 are now rebuilding their lives under the care of immediate relatives and the Wayanad District Child Protection Unit.
According to official data, two of the seven children have turned eighteen. The remaining five have been placed under the Kinship Foster Care Programme, which allows close relatives to care for the children with government support. The District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) makes regular visits to these homes to ensure the children’s well-being.
Wayanad DCPO Karthika Anna Thomas said that all five children are adjusting well with their extended families, most of whom are their uncles and aunts. The youngest, a five-year-old, is reportedly bonding with a newborn in her maternal aunt’s home, while another eight-year-old is growing up with three cousins in a nurturing environment. One of the two older children is pursuing graduation at Don Bosco College, Sulthan Bathery, and the other is enrolled in Class 11 in Kozhikode.
Many of the relatives sought the help of child psychologists, and as per their advice, the children were informed about their loss in a phased manner. "First, we informed them about the loss of friends, then immediate relatives, and finally about the death of both parents", said one of the relatives.
In the tragedy, fourteen other children lost one parent, three lost their mothers and 11 lost their fathers, which includes a two-month-old baby. Among them, two are from Tamil Nadu. These children are also being closely monitored by the District Child Protection Council for both physical and mental health.
On special occasions such as Onam and Vishu, the children often recall their parents, said the outreach staff. New government-built houses are under construction for several of them. For those supported by external agencies, the state government granted ₹15 lakh in addition to the compensation of ₹10 lakh for losing both parents and ₹5 lakh for losing one.
The compensation is kept in joint accounts with the DCPO, and interest can be withdrawn to meet children’s needs. Nineteen children are also receiving ₹4,000 per month through the central government's sponsorship programme. Moreover, six children received an additional ₹31.24 lakh in aid from individuals and organisations through state channels.