Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said "poverty and resultant malnutrition" in tribal areas can be eradicated only by increasing job opportunities for villagers.
Fadnavis met a delegation, led by NGO Shramajivi Sanghatana, at his official residence 'Varsha' here, over the issue of malnutrition in Palghar district.
The delegation submitted a 17-page memorandum to the Chief Minister in which it suggested different measures to tackle the issue.
Fadnavis told PTI that very soon the connectivity to tribal villages in Palghar district would be improved using fibre-optic cables, which will help the state government to provide better services on all fronts.
"Poverty and resultant malnutrition in the tribal areas can be eradicated only by increasing job opportunities for villagers," said the Chief Minister.
The NGO in a release claimed that Fadnavis in-principle accepted their suggestions and directed its chief Vivek Pandit to prepare a detail action plan for employment opportunities in the villages.
Pandit claimed the present measures being undertaken by the Maharashtra government were of temporary nature and a permanent solution was needed to end malnutrition.
"This is possible only by providing employment to the villagers. The root cause of malnutrition is poverty," he said.
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"Called a meeting and took a review of various measures and programs with district collector to curb malnutrition," Fadnavis said in a tweet this evening.
"Asked all officials of all related departments to discuss and unitedly frame comprehensive nutrition policy. Also asked to speedily fill the vacant posts of health department. Collectors have initiated the process for the same," the Chief Minister said in another tweet.
The meeting was attended by Maharashtra Ministers Deepak Sawant, Vishnu Savra, Vidya Thakur and Girish Bapat.
The district collectors of Ahmednagar, Palghar, Gadchiroli, Nashik, Nandurbar, Amravati and Thane joined the meeting via video conferencing, an official said.
