Top officials to visit Melghat to assess issues surrounding malnutrition deaths

Public health secretary Nipun Vinayak told the court that he had spoken with his counterparts in the women and child development department; and the tribal development department and had decided on the visit together to understand the grievances. The court said that officials not below the ranks of deputy secretary of the public works department, finance department and water and sanitation also join the visit since the issues in the area concern these departments too.

Along with them, project officer of Melghat, the CEO of Amravati district, deputy conservator of forests and the petitioners have also been directed to accompany the officials. The officials will visit the community and field institutions such as anganwadi centres and primary health care centres.

On November 12, the court had called the deaths of infants due to malnutrition “horrific”, adding that the state should not adopt a “casual approach”. On Tuesday, it noted the concerns raised by the petitioners who flagged the deaths of infants in the region.

The court noted that the petitioners had submitted that between April to October this year, 35 children had died and 22 were stillborn in Melghat. The concerns raised before the court included lack of specialists such as paediatricians, gynecologists, radiologists, surgeons and physicians, as well as nurses’ vacancies. The court was told that 38 posts are vacant, which are a cause of concern when it comes to institutional deaths.

Other concerns noted by the court included supply of electricity in PHCs, supply of quality to children, lactating mothers and pregnant women, sonography facility made available only once a week.

It was suggested that certain powers regarding budgetary sanctions be granted to the officials of Amravati district so that they do not have to go back and forth with officials from Mumbai for allocations. The court also sought to know if an audit specific to the region can be conducted.