To add to the worries for the State Government, a new malnutrition death case came to light on Sunday in Nabarangpur district’s tribal-inhabited Gaobandha village, where healthcare is a far cry.
Many believe that if immediate steps are not taken the situation will turn for worse like that of Dongriguda. The deceased kid is of poor Surendra Jain. He was found affected by malnutrition in the CHC at Jharigam.
lack of adequate food and delayed medical help caused several infants belonging to poor tribal families to suffer from malnutrition in the remote village. Gaibandha village is surrounded by mountainous forest from all sides, which is located 17 km from Chakalapadar gram panchayat office and is around 30 km from Jharigam block. It is basically a habitation of Paraja and Kondh tribes who are vulnerable tribal groups. The total population in the village is around 200 with 60 families. There is no road connection to the village and one has to trek 5 km in the forest to reach the nearest motorable road from the village. The Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is in place in Chakpadar panchayat but villagers say they have never heard of the scheme.
It is worth noting that around 12 children had died in Dongriguda village of Jharigam block in 2002 within a few weeks in June-July. Even after 14 years of that incident, the administration has not been able provide basic services like drinking water, Anganwadi, electricity and all weather roads in the village.