KOLKATA: This festive season, multiple Puja organizers are cutting short their lavish budgets to support children who have lost their one or both parents.
As per government data in Bengal, there are 308 recorded orphans whose both parents had died of Covid-19 till August 26, two of whom were abandoned and are now growing up in a government-sponsored home. There are 6,270 more children whose father or mother has died of the infection during this period.
“My sister had oral cancer and she was struck by Covid-19 during the first wave and died in September 2020 when my nephew was just 2-year-old. In July this year, my brother-in-law also died, leaving the kid orphaned. I have two young kids and have no clue how to sustain this three-year-old’s education and vaccination needs. But a Puja organizer in Ballygunge has promised to fund his education and medical needs till he becomes an adult,” said Prasenjit Das, the child’s uncle and a resident of Lansdowne.
Another eight-year-old boy in Behala, who lost his father, an auto rickshaw driver, to Covid-19 in May this year, is also seeking funds to support his education as his mother, a former homemaker, has taken up the helms of the family now and is supporting the family by doing odd jobs in the neighbourhood.
“This year, we have decided to avoid any grandeur or pomp during our Durga Puja celebration and will use the fund for something more worthy — which is to support little kids who have lost their parents to Covid. We will start with 10 children and will extend the programme to others based on the number of applications we receive,” said Arijit Maitra, secretary of Ballygunge Samajsebi Durgapuja committee.
The Ballygunge club officials said they will pay for education, nutrition and all medical needs of the orphans till they become adults.
Young Mens’ Association in Sahapur off New Alipore, who have picked life during and after Covid as their theme, has also taken up a similar initiative. “This is not a puja to show off the amount of money we can spend but it is the kind of puja where we have the duty to give back to society when it needs us most,” said Sourav Roy, the club secretary.
Sociologist Prasanta Roy said the move was extremely praiseworthy as it can influence other Puja committees as well to let go of unnecessary spending and spend the money in something worthwhile. “However, the Puja committees need to it is not just a one-time publicity gimmick,” said Roy. Psychologist Devika De Ghosh added: “This initiative is not only going to make these kids direct beneficiaries but it will also take off the burden off the immediate caretakers.”
