Meeting on Aug 12 over Maharashtra malnutrition deaths

Lack of coordination among various departments, inadequate staff cited leading reasons

Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan has convened a meeting on Monday with state tribal development minister Madhukar Pichad and minister for child and women’s development Varsha Gaikwad, to discuss the deaths of 23 children from malnutrition in Thane district last week.

The deaths were reported in the tribal dominated Jawhar and Mokhada talukas in Thane district.

Besides, the governor would also take up 62 child deaths and 23 still births reported in tribal-dominated Melghat in Amravati district between January and June. According to government data, between April 2012 and March 2013, Melghat reported 408 child deaths and 129 still births.

Pichad, who visited these areas last week, told Business Standard: “‘The Thane district deaths are because of non-availability of proper medical infrastructure and healthcare facilities. In certain cases, doctors, despite being recruited, have not taken charge, while some doctors and government officials are holding additional charge.”

Pichad said the government would make all efforts to provide health care to infants and pregnant women. He admitted there was a need to educate women, especially from tribal areas, about the programmes. A government official, who did not want to be identified, admitted there were issues relating to coordination among various departments and logistics.