Our system failed the sisters: Sisodia

NEWDELHI: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday asked the directorate of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to explain why no help was provided to the three girls who allegedly died of malnutrition and starvation in east Delhi’s Mandawali.

Taking suo-motu cognizance of the deaths, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also issued notices to the Delhi government and the ministry of women and child development asking them to submit reports within four weeks.

Sisodia, who went to the SDM’S office in Mandawali to take stock of the case, said he has directed the state planning department to conduct a census on the living condition and health of all children living in Delhi.

The deputy chief minister met the mother of the three minor girls at the sub-divisional magistrate’s office.

“The Delhi government has decided to provide ₹25,000 to the family from the disaster management fund,” Sisodia said.

“The mother has been admitted to a hospital. The best medical treatment will be provided to her. If more financial assistance is required once the father of the kids returns, the government will try providing that through the CM’S fund,” the deputy chief minister said.

Criticising the child development services, which comes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Sisodia said agency was formed to help children reeling under hunger and starvation.

“In Delhi, too, there are anganwadi and ICDS officers, and our system has failed somewhere. I have directed the directorate of ICDS to submit a report about the officials responsible for keeping records of the people living in the area and fix accountability. If the family’s details were in the record, what were the officials concerned doing? Why were the girls helped on time?,” he said.