CPI(M) MP calls off fast over tribal infant deaths

Lok Sabha member M B Rajesh of CPI(M) today called off his four-day fast over the plight of tribals in Attappadi a day after the Congress-led UDF Government announced a slew of measures to tackle the issue including recurring death of infants due to malnutrition.
Rajesh, who began his fast alleging failure on the part of the government to address the issue, said he was ending the protest as some of the key demands he raised had been accepted by the Government.
The state cabinet yesterday put in place some urgent steps to tackle the situation and assigned a civil servant to co-ordinate work of government agencies and departments to bring relief to people in affected settlements.

A Deputy District Medical Officer has also been put in exclusive charge of the area to ensure that hospitals and health centres function properly without any shortage of medicines, doctors and paramedical staff.
A major tribal area in the state where there are a string of colonies spread around three rural panchayats, Attappadi has been witness to scores of infant deaths in the last several years. According to the government, 31 infants died last year and 13 so far this year, many of them new-borns of tribal couples.
Malnutrition of mothers has been found to be the main reason for the deaths.