4-yr-old dies of ‘malnutrition’ in MP district, 6 others in hospital

BHOPAL: The government is focusing on institutions to tackle the situation but it is not possible without community intervention... SACHIN JAIN, social activist

A four-year old girl died allegedly due to malnutrition on Tuesday while six others have been admitted to the Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in Khalwa block of Khandwa district, said officials in the women and child development (WCD) department on Thursday.

The girl, Jamuna Adiwasi, was admitted to NRC Khalwa on April 10 but her condition deteriorated and she was shifted to Khandwa district hospital where she died.

This is the second such death reported in the last eight months.

In 2013, the Khalwa block had hit the national headlines following a series of malnutrition deaths which had put the government in a tight spot.

The WCD department said Jamuna’s parents delayed admitting her to the nutrition centre. WCD officer Himani Rathore said, “The girl was not malnourished but she fell ill and her parents did not give her proper treatment. A year ago, she (Jamuna) had come to the NRC Khalwa and was discharged after 14 days but after that, family members didn’t come to the NRC for a follow up.”

Activists however, alleged that the district administration was failing to monitor the condition of malnourished children. Social activist Sachin Jain said, “The government is focusing on institutions to tackle the situation but it is not possible without community intervention. The lack of community participation is the reason behind lack of monitoring.”

The Madhya Pradesh government has taken several steps to curb malnutrition.

Last month chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced that the government would provide pulses at ₹10 per kg to tribals.

Khalwa block and Karhal block of Sheopur district were chosen to launch the programme from April 1.

According to National Family Health Survey-4, in MP, 40 out of 100 children are reportedly malnourished.

The report said 42.8% of the state’s children are under weight, 42% are stunting and 25.8 are wasting. Other than Khandwa, Sheopur and Vidisha are worst affected districts in terms of malnutrition.

A spate of fresh cases of malnourished children from Vidisha and Sheopur have been reported in the past month.