Context: Recently, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has called for SAMVEDNA Platform for children affected by COVID-19.
Background

• From facing loneliness in COVID-19 isolation ward to exhibiting aggressive behaviour after parents contracted the virus, over 1,000 children and parents have reached out to government helpline seeking help.

About SAMVEDNA Platform

• SAMVEDNA is Sensitizing Action on Mental Health Vulnerability through Emotional Development and Necessary Acceptance.
• It is a Toll-Free Helpline launched to provide psycho-social mental support for Children affected during COVID 19 Pandemic.
• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is providing Tele-Counselling to children through SAMVEDNA.
• The tele-counselling is being provided through a network of qualified Experts/Counselors/Psychologists.
• It is for psychological support to children to address their stress, anxiety, fear and other issues during the Pandemic.

The tele counselling is provided to the children under three categories

• Children who are in Quarantine/isolation/COVID Care centers;
• Children who have COVID positive parents or family members and near ones; and
• Children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19 Pandemic

It aims to cater to the children from all over India in various regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, and Bengali etc.

About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

• It is a statutory body under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
• It works under the aegis of Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Its mandate is to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• The Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.
• It visualizes a rights-based perspective flowing into National Policies and Programmes, along with nuanced responses at the State, District and Block levels.