Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports that malnutrition has claimed the lives of 600 children in Palghar district during 2016, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of the Maharashtra Government and sought a detailed report from him on the issue within four weeks. Alluding to reported malnutrition deaths in Mokhada, Jawar, Wada and Vikramgadh tehsils of Palghar district, the NHRC observed that the State authorities ought to be conscious towards the plight of the residents, especially the children and aged persons.
“Such a huge number of deaths of the children, in a year amount to violation of right to life and health of the poor victims,” the Commission said in a statement put out after it issued a notice to the Maharashtra Government.
Referring to news reports on the malnutrition deaths, the NHRC said: “The excerpts of the news stories reveal that the area having tribal population are the most vulnerable, who are already affected by poverty, illiteracy and lack of awareness towards Government welfare and health care schemes”.
Making a special mention of a tribal woman who lost her two year old child owing to severe malnutrition in the month of August, 2016, the NHRC said: “The angry residents of a tribal village Khoch confronted the Tribal Welfare Minister of the State, who stated that the Government is doing its work and the schemes are being implemented. The locals have alleged that the funds are being allocated but not reaching the beneficiaries.
The NHRC also referred to another news report which stated that the district administration had undertaken the screening of all children in the Palghar’s four tribal talukas following reports of malnutrition cases.