Congress seeks probe into deaths of tribal children
The Congress on Monday, Aug 24 demanded an independent inquiry into the deaths of tribal children in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra with Adivasi Congress chairman Vikrant Bhuria alleging administrative failure on nutrition, healthcare and hostel safety in both BJP-ruled states.
The Madhya Pradesh toll dispute
Addressing a press conference, Bhuria claimed 22 Baiga tribal children died from malnutrition-related illness in Balaghat's Birsa block, against the state's official count of eight attributed to a seasonal malaria/measles outbreak since late June. LoP Umang Singhar separately puts the toll at 19. The gap remains unverified and isnt new: Congress had already put the toll at nine in mid-August, when the health department's count was still zero deaths.
On the same day as Bhuria's press conference, a government survey screening 3,811 people across three Balaghat villages found 798 cases of malaria, diarrhoea, fever-with-rash and skin disease. Congress cited this data to allege the state was concealing the real toll — a sharper "cover-up" charge than plain administrative failure.
Bhuria also alleged: nutritional meal supply cut for six months, nearest health centre 20 km away, Forest Rights Act land titles cancelled, vaccination coverage below 80%, and no separate tribal-nutrition budget line despite the scheme's ₹12/day-per-child allocation. He demanded a full fund-utilisation account for 2020–2025. Independent surveys show 42%+ child wasting in Balaghat's Baiga population versus a ~24% rural MP average — suggesting the malnutrition problem predates this outbreak.
The Maharashtra hostel deaths
Bhuria also raised the deaths of girl students following a snakebite incident at a tribal hostel in Gadchiroli, alleging more than 70 girls sleeping on the floor of a single room as a contributing factor. Six girls were hospitalised after the incident, where three passed away. He directed his criticism at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds charge of Gadchiroli as guardian minister, alleging the state's engagement with the district was driven more by mineral resources and industrial interests than by tribal welfare.
He additionally cited unverified estimates drawn from media reports that between 550 and 600 children had died across tribal hostels in Maharashtra.
Bhuria's remarks weren't limited to Gadchiroli: he also said students in Nashik were continuing a hunger strike over hostel conditions and demanded urgent safety and infrastructure improvements there, suggesting the hostel-safety complaint is being framed as a statewide pattern rather than an isolated Gadchiroli incident.
What Congress wants
Congress demands: a special committee to investigate both the Balaghat and Gadchiroli deaths, disciplinary action against officials found responsible and a comprehensive safety audit of tribal hostels nationally.
